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Jhené Aiko Embarks on the Magic Hour Tour: A Celebration of Resilience and Artistic Collaboration

March 27, 2024

In the dynamic world of contemporary R&B, few artists possess the ethereal quality and lyrical depth of Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo. Known for her soulful voice and introspective songwriting, Aiko...

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SZA's "Saturn": Chart-Topping Success and Insight into Her Songwriting Process

March 22, 2024

In the ever-evolving world of R&B music SZA stands as a beacon of innovation. Her latest single, "Saturn," marks a significant milestone in her illustrious career. Debuted during the 2024 Grammy...

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The Rap Challenge of Drill Beats: Why Cardi B Didn't Release Ice Spice 'Munch' Remix

March 20, 2024

Drill beats, with their gritty textures and relentless rhythms, represent one of these challenging frontiers. Cardi B's recent experience with recording a verse for a remix of Ice Spice's "Munch"...

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Ariana Grande's Lyrical Odyssey: Love and Loss in 'Eternal Sunshine'

Ariana Grande has once again captured the spotlight with her latest album, "Eternal Echoes." This time, Grande embarks on a deeply personal journey, weaving her narrative through the thematic...

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Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar Triumph: Crafting Oppenheimer's “Unplayable” Score

March 14, 2024

In the grand auditorium of dreams, Ludwig Göransson clutched the Oscar statuette for Best Score, a testament to his monumental contribution to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. This win adds another...

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The TikTok-UMG Standoff: A Battle Over Music Rights and Its Ripple Effects

March 10, 2024

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest music company, has withdrawn its catalog from TikTok, the leading platform for music promotion...

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Jimin's Historic Billboard Hot 100 Triumph: Elevating K-Pop to New Heights on the Global Stage

March 7, 2024

lmost one year ago, BTS's Jimin etched his name in the hall of music history by becoming the first South Korean soloist to clinch the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with his hit single..

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The Mick Gordon Controversy: A Symptom of Deeper Issues in the Video Game Industry

March 6, 2024

the composer behind the critically acclaimed soundtracks of Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, has come forward with serious allegations against Bethesda, Id Software, and specifically, Id Software...

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"Laufey: Bridging Generations with Jazz's New Groove"

March 1, 2024

In an era where pop and electronic music dominate the charts, Icelandic singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey has emerged as an unexpected champion of jazz for Gen Z listeners...

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The K-Pop Wave Continues: March 2024's Exciting Comebacks and Anticipated Debuts

February 29, 2024

March 2024 is set to be an exhilarating month for K-Pop fans around the globe, with a lineup that promises both the return of beloved artists and the introduction of fresh faces to the music scene....

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Beyoncé Embarks on a New Journey with "Renaissance" Act II

February 28, 2024

This time, the buzz is all about her latest musical venture—a dive into country music with her new album "Renaissance" Act II. Announced during a Super Bowl for Verizon, the album marks a ....

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The Weight Behind the Power of Aretha Franklin's "Respect"

February 24, 2024

‍In the annals of music history, songs that have sparked as much cultural resonance and transformation as Aretha Franklin's rendition of "Respect" are unique to say the least. Originally written....

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When a Band That Never Existed Hits 1 Million Spotify Streams — Is Anyone Listening?

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Velvet Sundown Shock: 1 Million Streams, Zero Humans

Consider Billie Eilish as a synthetic voice rather than the genuine one. Spotify recently entered the world of Velvet Sundown, a full AI project including music, graphics, and an algorithmically generated narrative.

With a style that is too polished to be real, no live performances, and no interviews, Velvet Sundown has over a million monthly Spotify listeners and has been on various Viral 50 lists around the world. The truth—that everything was AI-created—was revealed only after the fact.

Why Music Insiders Say Listeners Need a Warning

According to The Guardian, music industry leaders want AI-generated songs on Spotify and Apple Music to be clearly labeled, so listeners know what’s real and what’s not.

Roberto Neri of The Ivors Academy warns that AI raises serious moral questions around who owns music, whether creators gave permission, and how transparent the process is.

  • Sophie Jones, a senior executive at the UK’s main record label association (BPI), believes AI should support—not replace—human musicians and creativity.
  • Liz Pelly, an author and critic, noted that independent artists may unwittingly use their own data to train artificial intelligence systems.
  • Spotify says nothing, whereas Deezer, a French music streaming service,  deliberately labels music that may be artificial intelligence. Up to 70% of Deezer streams could be fraudulent.

How This AI Band Flooded Playlists Unchecked

So, why did Velvet Sundown thrive while actual artists stalled?

  • A calm psychedelic-rock sound suitable for background playlists.
  • Stream algorithms pushed it without considering the source
  • Suno-style generative AI offered tremendous production at little cost.
  • Self-serve platforms allow anyone to post hundreds of AI tracks, without any restrictions.

Academic AI detectors achieve over 99.8% accuracy, while real-world consistency remains elusive. 

Reddit Rips It Up: Fans Sound the Alarm

Common complaints on Reddit include:

*“Actually existed band ended up being AI…”*
“Discover Weekly full of these AI songs lately!”
“Music became a dystopian sea of background noise.” 

Once-fresh discovery playlists now spam suspected AI tracks, making authentic music harder to find. This enormous migration continues, with indie artists fleeing platforms that value AI noise over human creativity.

What Must Change: Transparency, Regulation, and Respect

  1. Mandatory AI content labeling across all streaming services

  2. Copyright reforms: require consent for AI training and fair royalties

  3. Detection technology standardization: platforms and labels must collaborate

  4. Supporting artists: re-evaluate payouts and discovery systems in an AI era

Spotify and Apple Music could follow Deezer’s lead by being more transparent about AI- generated music. Scholars and politicians in the UK and US argue that these countries should set a global standard by creating new policies.

Final Take

When a completely fake band gets real streaming numbers, it's not just a novelty, it's a turning point. AI can be a powerful creative tool, but only if we prioritize transparency, protect artist rights, and human originality. 

When a Band That Never Existed Hits 1 Million Spotify Streams — Is Anyone Listening?when-a-band-that-never-existed-hits-1-million-spotify-streams----is-anyone-listeningLienor KatasJul 23, 2025Consider Billie Eilish as a synthetic voice rather than the genuine one. Spotify recently entered the world of Velvet Sundown, a full AI project including music, graphics, and an algorithmically...