AI songs on the radio have sparked debate in Northern Ireland after AI-generated tracks aired on local commercial stations and were later removed from playlists.
The songs drew hundreds of thousands of listens on social media. However, their broadcast split listeners, musicians and AI creators.
Singer-songwriter Paul Connolly said the rise of AI-generated music left him “angry and deflated.” Connolly, lead singer of the alternative-punk band The Wood Burning Savages, said that AI-generated music makes it harder for human artists to be heard.
He said streaming services and radio stations should not give AI-generated tracks the same platform as human-made music. He also said musicians already face fewer chances to gig and secure radio play.
Oliver McCann, an AI music designer signed to Hallwood Media, defended the format. He said his work does not replace artists; instead, it expands what creators can do.
Read: Google Gemini AI Music Generation Feature Now Available
McCann said he started using AI to bring his lyrics to life. His track “Stone” became the first song to reach one million streams on the AI music platform Suno.
Streaming platforms use different rules for AI music. Spotify has tested voluntary credits showing how an artist used AI, based on information from labels or distributors.
Deezer uses an AI detection tool and tags AI-generated tracks. Apple Music requires labels and distributors to declare AI use in metadata through transparency tags.
