Scammers have been uploading fake songs to real artists' profiles on music streaming platforms like Spotify, taking advantage of a distribution loophole to collect royalties. According to a report by 404 Media, these scams involve using generative AI to create songs and then inserting them into an existing artist's catalog. The loophole allows scammers to collect revenue from the tracks without the original artist receiving any of the proceeds. The payout is likely higher than for typical AI-generated songs because the fake tracks use the artist’s name and profile, increasing their visibility and potential earnings. The process is surprisingly simple. According to the report, it can take as little as five minutes to upload AI-generated music under a real artist’s name. This can be done for small bands, deceased artists, or even high-profile musicians like Taylor Swift. The scammer uses AI tools like Suno or Udio to create the song and an album cover. They then sign up for a digital music distribution service like DistroKid and claim to be a real band. Once the song is uploaded, the platform automatically adds it to the artist’s profile, making it appear as if the real artist released it. Neither the distribution service nor the streaming platform checks for authenticity, allowing the scammer to profit and potentially harm the artist's reputation. Smaller artists are particularly vulnerable to these scams, as major musicians often have teams monitoring their profiles. The issue has also affected deceased artists, as Spotify noted that "profiles that aren't actively managed can be especially vulnerable." A member of the Brooklyn band Lathe of Heaven expressed concern over the ease with which fake music could be uploaded under their name, calling it disheartening and highlighting the need for better protections from streaming services. The musical group Odette Child has been tracking the issue since July and found over 300 AI-generated songs falsely attributed to major artists, random celebrities, and even dead jazz musicians. While the loophole existed before AI-generated music became widespread, the scale of the problem has increased dramatically. Odette Child emphasized that platforms need to invest more in infrastructure to protect artists, listeners, and consumers. Spotify has introduced a limited beta feature that allows musicians to review releases before they go live, but the challenge remains significant, with estimates suggesting around 50,000 AI-generated songs are uploaded to Spotify daily. Spotify and other platforms have acknowledged the issue and are taking steps to address it. Spotify stated that protecting artists' identities is a top priority and that it continues to invest in detection and prevention. The company is also working with distributors to stop bad submissions at the source. Amazon Music has similarly committed to improving enforcement through advanced detection technologies and regular communication with partners and rights holders. Additionally, Spotify has introduced a verification badge for non-AI-generated songs and a spam filter to detect suspicious uploads, including mass submissions and artificially short tracks.