Tidal’s introducing a new AI policy to protect artists and their fans.
June 29, 2026 by Tony Gervino
Tidal is not here to bash technological advancement, with today’s launch of our AI policy. Let’s make that clear. We understand how advances in technology offer myriad options for artists who want to better understand their fans’ behavior, build new tools for recording and engineering their music, and automate their workflow. Hell, they can even build their own instruments.
It’s already proven valuable for the purposes of time-saving and cost-saving, and has aided people that may need a nudge to get over a creative roadblock. After all, who are we to tell an artist that they can’t experiment? (That’s a rhetorical question.)
Fact is, it becomes more difficult every day to maintain the human connection between authentic artists and authentic fans — which is the pathway toward creating economic empowerment in an industry where it is increasingly difficult to do so.
However …
Those examples we just cited are not why we’re establishing guardrails. Rather, it’s because our inboxes (and your world, we’re assuming) are inundated with music that is created completely AI-generated and impersonating existing artists purely for financial gain.
We are committed to protecting and rewarding organic creativity to avoid compromising an artist’s ability to connect with and build their fandom from Tidal subscribers. Many have told us they do not want to be exposed to — or prompted to listen to — wholly AI-generated music.
So we are making today’s announcement with the understanding that it is a living document and we will continue to evolve as the advancements in technology warrant.
Regardless of what you are reading elsewhere, AI’s takeover of the music industry (and your recommendations) isn’t inevitable if we take even greater steps now to monitor and control it.
Because Tidal is committed today and every day to fight for artists’ rights. That was a day-one promise that will not change.
Here are the highlights of our new AI policy, which goes into effect on July 15:
Tidal will identify and tag AI-generated music in our app. Listeners will see an “AI” badge next to music we detect as wholly AI-generated.
Tidal will not tolerate AI-generated music that impersonates an artist or group, or that facilitates fraudulent activity. We’re implementing automatic tools to remove these releases immediately and on an ongoing basis.
Tidal will not allow music that is 100% AI-generated to be monetized. No royalties will go to such releases, nor will AI-generated uploads be eligible for direct-to-fan sales.
We will update Tidal’s AI policy as the technology continues to evolve.
For anyone that can’t read the article:
Title: We’re For Real
Tidal’s introducing a new AI policy to protect artists and their fans. June 29, 2026 by Tony Gervino
Tidal is not here to bash technological advancement, with today’s launch of our AI policy. Let’s make that clear. We understand how advances in technology offer myriad options for artists who want to better understand their fans’ behavior, build new tools for recording and engineering their music, and automate their workflow. Hell, they can even build their own instruments.
It’s already proven valuable for the purposes of time-saving and cost-saving, and has aided people that may need a nudge to get over a creative roadblock. After all, who are we to tell an artist that they can’t experiment? (That’s a rhetorical question.)
Fact is, it becomes more difficult every day to maintain the human connection between authentic artists and authentic fans — which is the pathway toward creating economic empowerment in an industry where it is increasingly difficult to do so.
However …
Those examples we just cited are not why we’re establishing guardrails. Rather, it’s because our inboxes (and your world, we’re assuming) are inundated with music that is created completely AI-generated and impersonating existing artists purely for financial gain.
We are committed to protecting and rewarding organic creativity to avoid compromising an artist’s ability to connect with and build their fandom from Tidal subscribers. Many have told us they do not want to be exposed to — or prompted to listen to — wholly AI-generated music.
So we are making today’s announcement with the understanding that it is a living document and we will continue to evolve as the advancements in technology warrant.
Regardless of what you are reading elsewhere, AI’s takeover of the music industry (and your recommendations) isn’t inevitable if we take even greater steps now to monitor and control it.
Because Tidal is committed today and every day to fight for artists’ rights. That was a day-one promise that will not change.
Here are the highlights of our new AI policy, which goes into effect on July 15:
Tidal will identify and tag AI-generated music in our app. Listeners will see an “AI” badge next to music we detect as wholly AI-generated.
Tidal will not tolerate AI-generated music that impersonates an artist or group, or that facilitates fraudulent activity. We’re implementing automatic tools to remove these releases immediately and on an ongoing basis.
Tidal will not allow music that is 100% AI-generated to be monetized. No royalties will go to such releases, nor will AI-generated uploads be eligible for direct-to-fan sales.
We will update Tidal’s AI policy as the technology continues to evolve.