YouTube Music on Wednesday announced the rollout of a new labeling system aimed at improving transparency for songs created with the help of generative AI. Listeners will be able to easily identify tracks created using AI, including those involved in songwriting and vocals.
The label will be displayed on the player page. Click this label to see additional information about AI’s specific role in track creation.
Notably, these labels will also extend to the main YouTube app.
YouTube said it has worked with various music partners and introduced its own detection tools to identify AI-generated music. According to its help page, partners using YouTube can declare the use of generative AI in their work through one of three designations: Full Gen AI, Partial Gen AI, or No Gen AI.
“Full Gen AI” applies to tracks that are fully AI-generated, while “Partial Gen AI” refers to works where the artist incorporates AI-generated components but adds their own live elements. Tracks edited using pitch correction tools such as Auto-Tune fall into the “No Gen AI” category.
The move comes as AI-generated music rapidly expands across streaming services, with many platforms adopting unique approaches. For example, Apple Music plans to introduce the “Made With AI” label as part of its AI transparency tag later this year. Spotify also has AI labels and music spam filters.
Deezer has taken a tougher stance, reporting in July that it was receiving nearly 90,000 completely AI-generated tracks every day. Labels on the platform detect AI-generated music and exclude it from algorithmic recommendations and editorial playlists, while also withholding royalties from unauthorized streams. The company is also working on an option that will allow users to filter out AI-generated music.
TIDAL will also label recordings it identifies as entirely AI-generated, allow listeners to disable the recordings, and exclude these recordings from royalty attribution.
In contrast, YouTube focuses on disclosure rather than outright restrictions. The new label aims to inform listeners about the role of AI in music production, but AI involvement alone doesn’t make a track ineligible for monetization. YouTube is also experimenting with AI-powered music production, including Dream Track, a tool that allows selected creators to generate soundtracks featuring AI-generated versions of participating artists’ voices.
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