Partly AI-generated folk-pop hit barred from Sweden’s official charts

A folk-pop song titled "I Know, You’re Not Mine" by the artist Jacub has been excluded from Sweden’s official music charts after it was revealed that the track was partly created using artificial intelligence (AI). Despite topping Spotify’s streaming rankings in Sweden and amassing over 5 million global streams, including 200,000 in Sweden alone, the song was ruled ineligible for the Sverigetopplistan chart, which is compiled by IFPI Sweden. The decision was based on the current rules that disallow songs mainly generated by AI from appearing on the official list. Jacub’s song, an acoustic guitar-led folk-pop track, is part of a six-track EP named "Kärleken är Bränd" (Love is Burned). The artist’s Spotify profile features a sketch of a bearded man, adding to the intrigue around the AI-generated nature of the music.

The exclusion followed investigative journalism by Emanuel Karlsten, who uncovered that the song was registered to Danish music publisher Stellar, with two credited rights holders working in the company’s AI department. Stellar acknowledged that Jacub’s voice and parts of the music were created using AI tools as part of their creative process. However, the company emphasized that they are primarily a music company run by experienced professionals who invested significant time and artistic vision into the project. They distinguished their work from "AI music slop," a term used to describe mass-produced, low-quality AI content. Stellar’s approach aims to push the limits of audience tolerance for artificial music and artists, blending AI assistance with human creativity.

Spotify, the platform where Jacub’s song gained popularity, does not currently require tracks to be labeled as AI-generated. However, the company has been actively combating AI-made spam tracks, which can unfairly generate royalties and dilute earnings for legitimate musicians. Jacub is not the first AI-generated artist to attract significant streams; the Velvet Sundown, an AI-created band, previously amassed over 1 million streams before its artificial origins were revealed. Their most popular song has since reached 4 million streams on Spotify.

The controversy surrounding Jacub’s success has reignited calls for mandatory AI labeling in music. Composer and copyright advocate Ed Newton-Rex argued that clear disclosure of AI involvement would prevent AI-generated tracks from unfairly dominating charts and streaming royalties. He urged governments to require prominent labeling of AI-created works to protect human artists. Spotify has expressed support for an industry standard to disclose AI use in music, developed by the nonprofit DDEX, but participation in this labeling system remains voluntary. The platform has not mandated artists to identify AI contributions, leaving the issue unresolved.

This incident highlights the evolving challenges the music industry faces as AI technology becomes more integrated into creative processes. While AI can be a powerful tool for innovation, its use raises questions about authenticity, artistic credit, and fair compensation. The Swedish music industry’s decision to exclude Jacub’s track from the official charts reflects a cautious approach to maintaining these standards. As AI-generated music continues to grow, the industry will need to balance embracing new technologies with protecting the rights and recognition of human artists.