Published: 9/29/2026
Source: SFGATE
The San Jose Sharks are retiring “Power Bite” after fans repeatedly suspected the custom goal song was AI-generated, showing that perceived authenticity can become a real music-marketing problem even when AI use is disputed.
The producer denied using AI, and SFGATE did not verify that the track was AI-made. Sharks marketing chief Doug Bentz said the larger issue was measurable fan sentiment: surveys, focus groups and social monitoring showed that the controversy was damaging the in-arena experience.
The team chose a recognizable replacement with Bay Area ties, even though conventional licensing will cost more and complicate social-media highlights. For artists and brands, the lesson is direct: provenance, disclosure and audience trust now belong in the release strategy, not in the cleanup plan.

