“New Music Friday” on Spotify now includes a “Verified by Spotify” badge to distinguish real artists from AI-generated music. The green badge with a check mark helps users identify authentic and trusted artists with consistent listener engagement. Criteria for receiving the badge include sustained listener activity, an identifiable presence both on and off-platform, linked social media accounts, live performances, and merchandise sales.
Artists need at least 10,000 active listeners over three consecutive months for verification. The badge also recognizes artists with significant contributions to music culture and history or those building cultural momentum. The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) President Andrew Cash supports the verification system but is concerned it may create obstacles for new and independent artists.
Verified artists like Madonna, BTS, and Bad Bunny now display the badge on their profiles. However, artists like bbno$, Joni Mitchell, Roy Orbison, Celia Cruz, and R. Kelly are yet to receive verification. Spotify plans to roll out badges gradually and has no immediate plans to apply the system to podcasts.
Spotify’s verification system is similar to social media platforms’ verification badges for public figures. While other platforms monetize verification, Spotify currently has no plans to do so. Critics worry that the criteria, such as the 10,000 active monthly listener threshold, could disadvantage smaller artists. Spotify’s approach may change over time, and it currently does not allow AI-generated work for verification.
Apple Music and Deezer have their own methods to identify AI-generated music, while artists like Taylor Swift take legal steps to protect their music from AI misuse. The evolving verification system aims to differentiate human-generated music from AI creations and ensure the authenticity of artists’ work.
