The 404 Media Podcast Spotify Is Publishing AI Tracks of Dead Artists
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Jul 23, 2025 This week dives into the bizarre realm of AI music with Spotify publishing unauthorized tracks from deceased artists. The ethics of these AI-generated songs spark lively debate about legacy and authenticity in music. A chilling report unveils a company selling hacked data to debt collectors, raising alarms about privacy violations. Additionally, the implications of corporate ethics in data commodification are critically examined, painting a vivid picture of our surveillance-driven culture and its potential future.
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Dead Artist AI Song Published
- Spotify published an AI-generated song "Together" on Blaze Foley's official Spotify page despite him being deceased since 1989.
- The AI song's style was unlike Blaze Foley's authentic, gritty country music, upsetting fans and the music manager.
Manager Horrified By Fake Tracks
- Blaze Foley's music manager Craig McDonald was horrified to see AI-generated songs misrepresenting Foley on Spotify.
- He valued sharing Foley's real music but found the AI songs damaging and disrespectful to the artist's legacy.
Multiple AI Songs Linked to Syntax Error
- Multiple AI-generated songs from different deceased or living country artists appeared under their official Spotify pages.
- They all linked back to a mysterious company, "Syntax Error," creating fake profiles and using AI-generated images and music.