Deezer Demonetizes 85% of AI Music Streams, Commercializes AI Detection Technology
- Michele
- 06 February 2026, Friday
As the number of AI-generated streams on streaming services continues to grow, Deezer announced that it has demonetized 85% of all AI-generated streams on its platform. Additionally, the company decided to make its AI detection tool commercially available to other platforms.
Deezer Demonetizes 85% of AI-Generated Streams on Releases
Ever since AI became a growing concern within the music industry, Deezer has been at the forefront of taking a clear stance on AI-generated content. While the platform does not ban AI-generated music outright, it has implemented concrete measures to protect both artists and listeners. At the beginning of 2025, Deezer became the first platform to launch an AI detection tool and clearly label AI-generated music. Moreover, it blocks fully AI-generated tracks from being included in algorithmic recommendations and editorial playlists.
Now, Deezer decided to go a step further. In a press release, the platform announced that it has demonetized the majority of AI-generated tracks due to streaming fraud. According to its data, up to 85% of all streams on AI-generated music are fraudulent and, as a result, are removed from the royalty pool. But how bad is the AI issue really? Let’s look at the numbers.
In January 2026, around 60,000 tracks were released on the platform daily, accounting for roughly 39% of all music delivered each day. In 2025, more than 13.4 million AI tracks were detected and tagged. Deezer reports that AI-generated tracks account for only a small portion of total streams on the platform (up to 3%) yet a disproportionately high share of those streams were fraudulent in 2025, reaching as much as 85% depending on the month. By comparison, streaming fraud across Deezer’s entire catalog represented just 8% of all streams during the same year.
The data suggests that the primary purpose of AI-generated music is to generate fake streams, which dilutes the royalty pool and reduces the income of real, human artists. Alexis Lanternier, CEO of Deezer, addresses the issue as follows:
“We know that the majority of AI music is uploaded to Deezer with the purpose of committing fraud, and we continue to take action. We detect and tag AI-generated music and remove it from algorithmic recommendations, so that our users have a clear choice regarding what to listen to, while making it harder for fraudsters to game the system. And of course, every fraudulent stream that we detect is demonetized so that the royalties of human artists, songwriters and other rights owners are not affected.”
AI is also perceived as problematic among listeners, who are increasingly struggling to recognize AI-generated music. At the end of 2025, a study conducted by Deezer found that 97% of respondents were unable to distinguish between AI-generated tracks and human-made ones, with more than half finding the results uncomfortable. These findings show that transparency around AI matters not only to artists and platforms, but also to listeners. For this reason, the Deezer CEO states that “with a continuous flood of uploads to streaming platforms, our approach remains crystal clear: transparency for fans and protecting the rights of artists and songwriters.”
Deezer Makes AI-Detection Tool Commercially Available
Building on these efforts, Deezer has decided to take another major step to combat fraud and protect artists and listeners alike by making its patented AI detection tool commercially available to other streaming platforms. In doing so, the company provides the infrastructure for greater transparency in music streaming while discouraging the use of AI for fraudulent purposes.
According to Lanternier, Deezer has already seen interest in its technology and broader approach to AI, and has worked with several industry players, including the French music association Sacem. The CEO explains: “From now on, we are licensing the tech to make it widely available. Deezer continues to lead the way in promoting a transparent experience for artists and fans, with a commitment to fight AI-music fraud across our industry.” More information about the tool is available on Deezer’s website for partners.
AI-Generated Music: Is The Industry Becoming More Strict?
It appears that the industry is starting to take AI more seriously. At the beginning of the year, Bandcamp took a similar, and even stronger, stance by announcing that it intends to ban all AI-generated music from its platform, reinforcing its commitment to human creativity and artist autonomy. Deezer’s decision to take additional steps to prioritize and protect artists and fans alike is further evidence of a possible shift toward an artist-first philosophy.
At the same time, the recent collaborative effort between Warner Music Group and Stability AI hints at a growing acceptance of AI in music. While the partnership represents an attempt to address copyright-related challenges and establish clearer standards for ethical AI use, it also further normalizes the presence of AI in the industry. In other words, the direction of the music landscape remains uncertain. We can, however, expect to see many changes in 2026. Curious about our predictions? Read our article on the state of the music industry in 2026.
Learn how to upload music to Deezer with iMusician.
Michele is a Berlin-based writer passionate about music in its many forms, from soulful house and groovy techno to alternative rock, dark wave, and beyond. With experience in production, journalism, and a growing interest in DJing, they engage with the culture of sound from multiple perspectives. Their current topics of interest include club culture, music discovery & curation, dance, and the ways music affects perception & feeling. Michele writes in English.
