Spotify Launches Artist Profile Protection Feature, Giving Artists More Control Over Their Pages
- Michele
- 25 March 2026, Wednesday
There are several reasons why artists sometimes find the wrong music appearing on their profiles. Alongside general metadata errors, the rise of AI deepfakes and streaming fraud has made the problem more common. To address this issue, Spotify now launched a feature called Artist Profile Protection, giving artists more control over what is released under their name.
Why And How Releases Get Misassigned
Artists who release music regularly are typically aware of a common issue: their music ends up on the wrong artist profile, or they suddenly notice music that does not belong to them appear on their profile. There are five primary reasons why this happens:
Non-unique artist names: Multiple artists can use the same name, making it difficult for platforms to assign releases correctly.
Metadata errors: Metadata mistakes during the upload can lead to music being linked to the wrong profile.
Platform-side assignment: Streaming services automatically assign releases to profiles, which can result in mismatches.
Inconsistent naming: Variations in spelling, formatting, or capitalization across releases can confuse platforms.
Lack of existing profile links: If an artist hasn’t linked their profiles or identifiers (like Artist IDs), platforms have less accurate data to work with.
With the rise of AI, another reason has become more common: streaming fraud, where bad actors attach AI-generated music to the profiles of real artists in an attempt to mimic them. These so-called deepfakes are often designed to generate streams and revenue by misleading listeners into thinking the music is legitimate.
As Spotify explains: “Open-access distribution channels have lowered the barrier for independent artists to share music with the world, promote collaborations easily, and transfer music between distributors seamlessly. But that openness comes with gaps that bad actors can exploit. (...) When that happens, it can impact your catalog, your stats, your Release Radar, and how fans discover your music.”
The scope of the problem is clear from the numbers. According to MBW, Sony Music recently requested that streaming platforms remove over 135,000 AI-generated songs uploaded by bad actors impersonating their artists. Those affected include Beyoncé, Queen, Harry Styles, and several others.
Spotify’s Artist Profile Protection: New Feature Against AI Fraud
This growing issue has prompted the platform to introduce concrete measures aimed at protecting artists from impersonation. This follows a larger announcement earlier this year on Spotify’s top priorities for 2026, including the protection of artists’ identities.
In a recent press release, Spotify explains how its new feature Artist Profile Protection, currently still in beta, works. After uploading music through a distributor, artists can review each release before it goes live on the platform. They can either approve or decline releases delivered from most providers.
If you’re an Artist Team Admin or Editor and already have access to the feature, you can find it in your Spotify for Artists settings on desktop and mobile web. Once you’ve turned on Artist Profile Protection, you’ll receive an email notification whenever music is delivered to Spotify under your name. You can then review each release individually.
As Spotify notes: “To protect your artist identity and prevent listener confusion, only the releases you approve will appear on your artist profile, contribute to your stats, and show up in recommendations to your listeners.” If you decline it or don’t take action, the release won’t appear under your name. Releases can also be removed after they’ve already gone online, if needed.
You’ll also get an artist key, a unique code you can share with distributors you trust. To avoid having to review every release manually, if a release includes this key when it’s delivered to Spotify, it’s automatically pre-approved and goes live as usual.
The feature may not be necessary for all artists, such as those who don’t release often or who don’t want to actively monitor their Spotify catalog. However, it can be particularly useful for those who have experienced AI misuse, share a similar name with another musician, or have a more hands-on approach to managing their careers.
Final Thoughts: Spotify’s Artist Profile Protection Feature
As AI-generated music and impersonation remain a growing cause for concern, tools like Artist Profile Protection are a tangible example of how platforms are starting to respond more directly. Since the feature is still in beta, Spotify will collect feedback during this phase to refine the tool before a wider rollout.
Other platforms have also taken concrete action: Bandcamp recently banned all AI-generated music, and Qobuz rolled out measures to detect and manage AI content. While these steps won’t solve every problem caused by AI, they help create oversight and send a clear signal that bad actors will face barriers.
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 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.
