SOUNDS AND VIBE

Will Your Future Spotify Playlists Be Full of AI Songs?

Type a simple prompt — like “Electric guitars with rhythmic strumming, playful handclaps, indie pop” — into an app like Suno, and seconds later, you receive a full, professionally sung song*. That’s the power of text-to-music Generative AI, now available to everyone.

These AI music generation platforms are reshaping music: more options for creators, endless variety for listeners, but also legal hurdles over training data. We’ll look at the main tools, how they help everyday users, and the recent settlements that could steady things for 2026 playlists.

*Song generated with Suno

The image shows audio equipment such as speakers, microphones, computer, keyboard and headphones in off-white colour matching the background colour.
AI generated image

Table of Contents

The Main Players in AI Music Generation

Three tools lead the pack as of late 2025, each suited to different needs:

Suno AI

  • Key Features: Fast full-song creation (up to 8 minutes in v4.5), including lyrics and vocals. Their free basic plan gives 50 credits/day — enough to make 10 songs each day.
  • Best For: Hobbyists and social media users wanting quick tracks
  • Drawback: Audio can feel less polished on complex prompts.

Udio

  • Key Features: High-fidelity audio and detailed controls for instruments and stems (e.g. isolate drums for remixing)
  • Best For: Producers tweaking professional-sounding pieces
  • Drawback: Steeper learning curve; downloads paused post-settlement (more below)

Google’s Lyria (via Gemini API)

  • Key Features: Real-time edits (adjust BPM, key, mood on the fly); integrates with apps like MusicFX DJ for interactive builds
  • Best For: Composers or developers building custom tools
  • Drawback: More developer-focused; less “one-click” for beginners

These aren’t toys — they’re practical aids. Suno powers viral TikToks; Udio helps podcasters score episodes affordably.

The Impact on Your Playlists

AI is pumping out content at scale: Streaming services like Deezer now see over 50,000 fully AI-generated tracks uploaded daily which make up 34% of new uploads. That’s a flood, making discovery tougher (algorithms prioritize fresh stuff) but adding variety — like endless funk variants for your focus playlist.

On the flip side, 97% of listeners can’t tell AI from human-made tracks, per a 2025 Deezer/Ipsos survey. And 80% want labels on fully AI songs for transparency. Expect this to become the standard: Deezer already tags AI-generated tracks, and Spotify is actively testing voluntary disclosure methods.

For now, it means your ‘Discover Weekly’ might mix human gems with AI fillers: you’ll need to check the track credits to spot the difference.

How AI Helps Creators Get Started

For non-pros, AI fills gaps without needing a studio. It’s less about replacement and more about shortcuts. As a solo creator, you can now handle writing, producing, and basic mastering in hours, not weeks.

  • Overcoming Creator’s Block: Musicians are using AI to generate variations on melodies, suggest complex harmonies, or create backing tracks in an unfamiliar genre, helping them jumpstart their creative process.
  • Filling the Skill Gap: For content creators who need professional-sounding scores for their videos, or self-releasing artists who can’t afford session musicians, AI acts as a one-person band.

The Curator’s Edge: Mastering the Vibe with Stems

Tools that use AI to perform stem isolation (separating vocals, drums, bass, etc.) give playlist curators a new level of control.

  • Perfecting Thematic Consistency: If you love a certain song but hate the percussion, you can use stems to remove or mute specific elements, ensuring your playlist maintains a consistent mood.
  • Seamless Transitions: Stem editing allows you to create custom fades and intros/outros, eliminating awkward silences and making professional, DJ-style transitions between tracks.
  • Creating Unique Versions: Need a purely instrumental track for a dinner party, but only have the full vocal version? Just mute the vocal stem and you have your custom track.

These AIs train on vast music libraries, often without compensating the original creators. Major labels like UMG, Sony, and Warner all sued platforms like Suno and Udio in 2024, claiming the AI outputs copy styles and melodic elements from hit songs. Independent artists have also filed class actions over lost royalties.

Two core legal issues stand out in these claims:

  • Training Data: The use of unlicensed copies of songs to “teach” the AI models.
  • Outputs: Generated tracks that are too similar to originals, which risks lawsuits against the user.

Progress in 2025: A Shift to Licensing

Recent settlements indicate the industry is moving toward a licensed, ethical model:

  • UMG/Udio Deal (Oct 29): The parties settled, resulting in a payout and full licensing for UMG’s catalog. They are collaborating on a new 2026 platform designed for “opt-in” remixes — users can customize licensed tracks but share only within the app. Udio immediately paused downloads to comply with the new terms.
  • Warner Follows Suit: Warner Music Group settled with both Udio (Nov 19) and Suno (Nov 25), agreeing to integrate licensed models into their platforms next year. While Sony’s cases are still ongoing, expect more deals to follow this trend.

This shift moves the industry toward paid licensing. Artists can opt-in for compensation, and the AI tools gain “ethical” training data. The main downside for users? Higher costs might bump up subscription fees, but it at least clears the legal fog for anyone planning to use the tools commercially.

The Vibe Check: Will AI Change How We Listen?

Generative AI is the biggest leap in music access since digital streaming. It makes creation easier and allows for incredible personalization. This shift is great, but it needs balance. Requiring “AI-generated” labels on music feels fair and helpful. And perhaps, tracks made purely by AI should earn lower royalties, so human artists aren’t undercut.

As the new licensing deals roll out, expect clearer rules soon. This will mean fewer surprises in your queue and more ethical content. The sound may be new, but the vibe — the connection between sound and emotion — will always be human.

Looking for some new sounds to add to your collection? Check out our playlist of film scores from composer Martin Dirkov.