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AI Fakes Folk Singer Album on Spotify, Threatening Artist Identities

TL;DR

• A new AI-generated album appeared under an English folk artist’s name on Spotify, which the singer never recorded.
• AI-generated songs are flooding streaming platforms, sometimes even impersonating dead artists like Kishore Kumar.
• The music industry is grappling with AI misuse, raising questions on artist identity, copyright, and the role of streaming platforms.

The Rise of AI-Generated Music—and Its Dark Side

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly transformed from a remarkable tool for remixing and music production into a potential nightmare for musicians. Recently, folk singer Emily Portman was congratulated by fans for her “new album” Orca—except there was one major problem: she never recorded or released it.

This incident shines a light on a growing crisis: AI is now being used to clone artist identities, producing and releasing entire albums without the real artist’s knowledge or consent. As technology continues to accelerate, the music industry stands at a crossroads. Will AI empower musicians to reach new creative heights, or will it erase their very identities?

When AI Clones Go Mainstream: The Orca Album Scandal

On a seemingly ordinary day, Emily Portman was flooded with messages from listeners congratulating her on her brand-new album, Orca. Bewildered, she trekked to Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube—and found an entire release, complete with art and tracklist, attributed to her name.

• The twist: Portman had never written, recorded, or approved any of these tracks.
• The reality: Every song was AI-generated, constructed to mimic her voice and style.
• The aftermath: The album circulated for weeks before platforms took it down—yet within days, another fake album appeared under her profile.

This isn’t an isolated incident. AI-fueled identity theft is rapidly spreading. From resurrected voices of dead artists to fresh vocals of active musicians, the lines between real and artificial are blurring fast.

AI’s Copycat Craze: Faking Musical Legends

What’s especially disturbing is that AI impersonation is not limited to living artists. Technological advances in voice cloning have allowed fraudsters to exploit even legendary musicians long after their passing.

• Case in point: AI-generated songs surfaced under the names of Blaze Foley, Guy Clark, and other late icons.
• Kishore Kumar’s ghost tracks: Indian singer Kishore Kumar, who passed away in 1987, was falsely credited online with an “original” version of Bollywood’s popular song “Saiyaara”. The viral hit, promoted as a rare find, was completely fabricated using AI voice synthesis.

In both cases, fans and casual listeners were tricked into believing the work was authentic—while fraudsters and unauthorized parties made money from streams and plays.

How Does This Happen? Behind the Scenes of AI Music Fraud

The explosion in AI-created content isn’t happening by accident. Modern streaming platforms like Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube Music have created a wide-open landscape:

• Low verification standards: Most platforms rely on third-party distributors and user-submitted data. Anyone with basic audio files and fake credentials can upload tracks under almost any name.
• Lack of proactive policing: Unless fans raise complaints or the artist notices the fraud, fake albums may remain online for weeks.
• Scale of the problem: Deezer disclosed in 2025 that it receives over 20,000 AI-generated songs every single day—double its volume from just three months before. Across all major platforms, nearly 100,000 new songs are uploaded daily, with many automated by AI.

The Vulnerability of Small and Independent Artists

For independent musicians—those without the legal and digital muscle of major labels—this is an existential threat:

• Scammers can easily target niche or rising artists with minimal scrutiny.
• Independent creators often lack the means to pursue takedowns or initiate copyright claims quickly.
• The longer fake music stays up, the harder it becomes to clean up one’s digital identity.

The Legal and Ethical Quagmire

Is AI in music always bad? Absolutely not. AI tools have legitimate uses, such as:

• Lyric writing: Brainstorming ideas or finding rhyming words faster
• Composing: Suggesting chord progressions or generating beats
• Sound design: Creating new genres or merging styles in innovative ways

But when these tools are used to impersonate real musicians—living or dead—without consent, it crosses a line from experimentation into outright fraud.

Most countries are dramatically behind on legislation. Voice cloning and AI-generated imitation fall into a legal gray area, complicated by existing copyright laws that don’t account for artificial performers.

The Business Incentive for Scammers

Fraudsters have a clear profit motive:

• Streaming payouts: Even a few thousand streams on Spotify or Apple Music can generate small but fast income.
• Search confusion: Fake albums get indexed under real artists, boosting play counts from unaware fans.

All the while, real musicians risk losing not only royalties but also their hard-earned reputations.

The Human and Cultural Cost: Why It Matters

At stake isn’t just revenue, but authenticity and artistic legacy:

• Authentic voices may be drowned out by algorithmic noise.
• Music fans may become indifferent to song or artist origins, eroding trust in platforms.
• In extreme cases, future generations could struggle to discern which works are genuinely from the human artist and which are mere AI ghosts.

As more consumers stream music algorithmically, the danger grows that the “sludge” of AI commoditization may eclipse the vibrancy of actual artistry.

How Streaming Platforms Are Responding

So far, major platforms have relied largely on passive, complaint-driven policing. However, with the sheer volume of daily uploads, this approach is no longer viable.

Some platforms have announced AI-detection initiatives:

• Deezer: Investing in audio fingerprinting and machine learning to spot and flag AI-generated tracks.
• Spotify: Experimenting with stricter upload verification, but details and enforcement remain spotty.
• YouTube: Employing a mix of manual moderation and automated content ID systems—but AI voices are tricky to detect.

Until more robust measures are in place, much of the detection and enforcement burden falls on vigilant fans and artists themselves.

Can Technology Solve What Technology Broke?

Ironically, AI may become both the poison and the antidote.

• Advanced audio analysis can help streaming companies detect abnormal upload patterns, artificial vocals, and mismatched metadata.
• Emerging technologies like blockchain or digital watermarking could help verify authentic releases.
• Some experts suggest “artist verification” systems, akin to social media blue ticks, to quickly flag genuine profiles for listeners.

But these solutions will take time, money, and world-wide cooperation.

What Should Artists and Fans Do Right Now?

For artists:

• Regularly audit your streaming profiles—search your name and monitor uploads.
• If you find fraudulent content, report it through the platform’s DMCA or complaint system immediately.
• Build a direct relationship with fans on social media and your own website, so they know where to find “official” music and announcements.

For fans:

• Be skeptical of “rare,” “never-heard-before,” or posthumous tracks from artists who haven’t been active.
• Report suspicious releases using platform feedback tools.
• Support and follow artists through their official channels.

The Road Ahead: Protecting Creativity in an AI World

The music world is facing its own greatest remix—a contest between digital convenience and creative authenticity.

Industry-wide action is urgently needed:

• Clear laws to define AI impersonation and copyright violations
• Consistent standards for artist verification and content uploads
• Improved AI detection and reporting tools across all major platforms
• Education for both fans and musicians about the risks and realities of AI-generated music

If ignored, the risk isn’t just a wave of fake tracks or lost royalties, but a fundamental erosion of our trust in music itself.

One thing is clear: The fight to protect artist identity is just beginning, and the choices made now will define creative culture for decades to come.

FAQs

Q1: Can AI legally use a real artist’s voice or name for new music?

A1: In most jurisdictions, no. Using an artist’s name or voice without their consent for commercial gain can violate copyright, right of publicity, and fraud laws. But AI-generated content is a legal gray area, and new laws are still developing.

Q2: How can musicians stop AI fakes from showing up on their streaming profiles?

A2: Musicians should regularly monitor streaming sites, promptly report fake tracks via DMCA or complaint tools, and work directly with their distributors to verify releases. Some platforms are building artist verification systems, but vigilance is key for now.

Q3: What risk does AI-generated music pose to regular music listeners?

A3: Listeners risk hearing fake or misleading tracks, being tricked by scammers, and undermining the legacies of their favourite artists. It may also dilute the overall value and trust genuine music holds if unaddressed.

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*This post is intended for artists, music fans, industry insiders, and anyone curious about how AI is reshaping the landscape of creativity and copyright in the digital age. If you found it valuable, share it with fellow music lovers and creators!*
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