Bandcamp prohibits music made ‘wholly or in substantial half’ by AI

Bandcamp has addressed the AI slop downside vexing musicians and their followers of late. The corporate is banning any music or audio on its platform that’s “wholly or in substantial half” made by generative AI, in accordance with its blog. It additionally clarified that using AI instruments to impersonate different artists or types is “strictly prohibited” by insurance policies already in place.

Any music suspected to be AI generated could also be eliminated by the Bandcamp group and the corporate is giving customers reporting instruments to flag such content material. “We imagine that the human connection discovered by way of music is an important a part of our society and tradition, and that music is far more than a product to be consumed,” the corporate wrote.

The announcement makes Bandcamp one of many first music platforms to supply a transparent coverage on using AI tech. AI-generated music (aka “slop”) has more and more been invading music-streaming platforms, with Deezer for one recently saying that fifty,000 AI-generated songs are uploaded to the app every day, or round 34 p.c of its music.

Platforms have been comparatively gradual to behave in opposition to this pattern. Spotify has taken some child steps on the matter, having recently promised to develop an trade normal for AI disclosure in music credit and debut an impersonation coverage. For its half, Deezer mentioned it stays the one streaming platform to signal a world assertion on AI artist training signed by quite a few actors and songwriters.

Bandcamp has a strong observe file for artist help, having lately unveiled Bandcamp Fridays, a day that it provides one hundred pc of streaming income to artists. That led to over $120 million going on to musicians, and the corporate plans to proceed that coverage in 2026.