Published: 10/5/2026
Source: Financial Times — Sony Music Steps Up Fight Against Streaming Fraud
Sony Music had requested the removal of more than 260,000 unauthorized AI-generated tracks from streaming platforms by the end of September, according to a new Financial Times report.
The reported total is nearly twice Sony’s March figure. The targeted recordings allegedly used synthetic versions of recognizable voices or identities associated with artists including Harry Styles, Adele, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.
The report distinguishes artist-impersonation deepfakes from a second problem: catalogs of AI-generated music streamed by automated accounts to collect royalties fraudulently. Creating music with AI is not itself streaming fraud; deceptive impersonation, automated plays and misdirected royalties are the central concerns.
Why it matters: Rights enforcement is moving beyond lawsuits against model developers and into day-to-day platform takedowns. AI music creators should avoid unauthorized artist identities, disclose synthetic elements accurately and reject marketing services that promise unexplained or guaranteed streams.
The takedown total reflects Sony Music’s reported requests rather than a public audit of how many tracks were removed or how every recording was classified.