Musician Discovers AI-Generated Album Falsely Uploaded to Her Streaming Profile
Musician and author Greta Morgan is demanding the removal of an AI-generated album that was uploaded to her profile on multiple streaming services without her knowledge or consent. The fraudulent eight-track album, titled Exit, appeared on her profile approximately one month ago after being uploaded through a music distribution website.
AI Album Features "Lifeless" Imitation of Artist's Style
The AI-generated record features breathy female vocals and stripped-down, slower songs that bear little resemblance to Morgan's authentic musical style. This incident is particularly distressing for Morgan, who has spent recent years recovering from spasmodic dysphonia, a voice disorder causing involuntary spasms in the larynx muscles that she was diagnosed with during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It sounds like a very shitty version of records I've made," Morgan told Metro. "You can hear the same tempos and some of the same instrumentation, but it's just lifeless. It sounds like mannequin music."
Streaming Platforms Respond Differently to Fraudulent Content
Morgan reported the fraudulent album to multiple streaming services with varying results. Spotify and Deezer promptly removed the content after her complaints, but Tidal and Amazon Music have yet to take down the AI-generated album despite her repeated requests. The album was uploaded under the composer name "Jonah Rogersz," which Morgan describes as sounding like "an AI name."
Metro's investigation found no official records or online presence for anyone named Jonah Rogersz, further suggesting the fraudulent nature of the upload. On Spotify alone, the fake album received approximately 5,000 listens within just a few days before Morgan discovered the issue.
Financial and Artistic Implications of Streaming Fraud
The fraudulent upload has significant financial implications for Morgan. Under current streaming platform systems, revenue from streams of the AI-generated album goes to the uploader rather than the legitimate artist. This means Morgan receives no compensation for streams of content falsely attributed to her.
"It's shocking," Morgan said. "It feels so violating that my listeners, who I care so much about, are getting spammed with some AI slop under my name."
Artist Calls for Improved Verification Systems
Morgan is urging all musicians to monitor their dormant music pages and imploring streaming platforms to implement stronger verification systems to prevent similar incidents. She suggests that streaming services need "a verification process for identity protection" to safeguard artists from fraudulent uploads.
"I would obviously love it if streaming services had better rates for artists that helps real artists make music, which is always going to be better than AI," Morgan added.
Platforms' Current Approaches to AI Content
Metro understands that Deezer employs AI detection tools and applies specific tags to artificial music content, which helps identify and remove such material once flagged. The platform also operates verification policies for larger artists, though smaller artists using distribution services may have their content sorted automatically under existing artist names.
Deezer has indicated they are exploring additional measures to address these issues in the future. Spotify, Amazon Music, and Tidal were contacted by Metro for comment regarding their policies on fraudulent uploads and AI-generated content.
Artist's Personal Journey and Response
Morgan, who previously performed under the name Springtime Carnivore and has collaborated with bands including Vampire Weekend, The Hush Sound, and Gold Motel, has been embracing her evolving voice following her recovery from spasmodic dysphonia. She details this journey in her memoir The Lost Voice, scheduled for UK release on May 20.
"For many years I was trying to heal my voice and recover my former 'perfect' voice," Morgan explained. "But I'm now at the point where I feel – let my voice be messed up, weird and let it shake, be wobbly and unpredictable, because a machine will never be able to do that."
The incident has strengthened Morgan's resolve against artificial perfection in music. "It makes me feel like I want to rebel against everything that is fake, perfect and glossy," she stated.
