Spotify expands AI remix and covers project with Merlin partnership
During its second-quarter earnings call this Tuesday, Spotify provided a fresh update on its highly anticipated AI-driven initiative. The streaming giant is developing a new tool designed to empower fans to create remixes and covers of their favorite tracks, provided they have the explicit consent of the artists involved.
A major milestone for the project was announced alongside the news: Merlin, the global digital rights agency representing over 30,000 independent labels and distributors, has officially joined Universal Music Group (UMG) as a key partner in this endeavor.
A Focus on "Real Artists"
Spotify is positioning this upcoming product as a stark contrast to the controversial AI startups currently flooding the industry with fully synthetic, "fake" music. By focusing on existing catalogs, the company aims to foster a creative environment that benefits the creators themselves.
"We want artists to be consenting to add their work into this catalog, so people can play around with covers and remixes based on their art. We also obviously want to give them credit. And last but not least… we not only have the consent and give credit, but we also drive the compensation for this," said Spotify co-CEO Alex Norström.
The Legal Path for AI Music
As generative AI continues to reshape the audio landscape—with competitors like Deezer reporting that over 50% of daily track uploads now contain AI elements—Spotify is betting on a model built on legality and artist participation.
Co-CEO Gustav Söderström emphasized that this tool represents a unique opportunity for the industry to embrace the "AI tailwind" in a controlled, profitable way. Key pillars of the product include:
- Artist Consent: Only music from participating artists will be available for remixing.
- Monetization: The tool will function as a paid add-on, creating a new revenue stream for artists.
- Attribution: Proper credit will be baked into the process for every fan-made creation.
What Comes Next?
While Spotify has not yet provided a specific release date for the tool, the company confirmed that a research preview will be rolled out to a select group of users in the near future. The platform does not require a full music catalog to begin the rollout, suggesting a phased approach to the product's debut.
"Normal generative music will happen with or without us," Söderström noted during the call. "This product will not happen without us, and it needs to exist so that existing artists can participate in this."
By bridging the gap between fan creativity and professional rights management, Spotify hopes to set a new standard for how AI interacts with the music industry, ensuring that the technology serves as a tool for collaboration rather than a replacement for human artistry.