Sony Music Takes Action Against Deepfakes: 135,000 Songs Removed

Thu Mar 19 2026 13:37:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a bid to protect its artists from unauthorized representation, Sony Music has successfully requested the removal of over 135,000 fraudulent songs generated through AI technology, targeting major stars such as Beyoncé and Harry Styles.

Sony Music has removed more than 135,000 songs impersonating its artists, including big names like Beyoncé and Harry Styles, as part of an effort to combat the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. The company emphasizes the financial harm these fraudulent tracks cause to legitimate artists and the importance of addressing this rising concern in the industry.

Music giant Sony Music says it has requested the removal of more than 135,000 songs by fraudsters impersonating its artists on streaming services.

The so-called deepfakes were created using generative AI, and targeted some of the company's biggest acts, who include Beyoncé, Queen, and Harry Styles.

The proliferation of such counterfeits causes 'direct commercial harm to legitimate recording artists,' Sony said - and deliberately target musicians who are promoting a new album.

In a statement, Dennis Kooker, president of Sony's global digital business, noted, In the worst cases, [the deepfakes] potentially damage a release campaign or tarnish the reputation of an artist.

The company warns that the number of songs generated in this way is only increasing as AI technology becomes cheaper and more accessible. It believes the 135,000 tracks it has identified represent only a small fraction of the total uploaded to streaming services.

Since March alone, Sony has discovered approximately 60,000 songs falsely claiming to feature artists from their roster, with other acts reported to be affected including Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, and Mark Ronson.

Kooker highlighted that deepfakes are particularly problematic during periods of high demand for artists, stating, They are taking advantage of the fact an artist is out there promoting their music.

Industry Revenues Continue to Rise

This announcement was made at the launch of the music industry's Global Music Report in London. The report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) indicated that recorded music revenues grew by 6.4% last year, reaching $31.7 billion (£23.8 billion).

Despite setbacks from piracy, this was the eleventh consecutive year of growth, spearheaded by rising streaming subscriptions.

Furthermore, the music industry event coincided with the publication of a UK government report regarding AI regulation. Some attendees expressed relief that the government decided against allowing AI firms to use copyrighted works without permission.

Addressing AI in Music

While concerns regarding unregulated AI rise, the industry must also confront streaming fraud. This practice involves 'fake' artists uploading songs to platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, and Apple Music, artificially boosting play counts to gain illicit royalties.

The IFPI asserts that AI technology has exacerbated these issues, potentially impacting legitimate artists significantly. Informally, the music industry estimates that up to 10% of content across streaming platforms may be fraudulent.

Victoria Oakley, CEO of the IFPI, emphasized the need for transparent identification of AI-generated music within streaming services to ensure a fair ecosystem. Kooker noted that some companies, such as Deezer, already use software for identifying AI-generated tracks.

Overall, the music industry is grappling with the dual challenges of AI advancements and fraudulent practices that threaten its integrity and the livelihoods of real artists.