JAKARTA - Waves of music made by artificial intelligence are now flooding global streaming platforms, including Apple Music. But behind the surge in the number of songs uploaded, there is an interesting fact: almost no one is actually listening to it.
Apple Music's Vice President, Oliver Schusser, revealed that more than a third of the songs sent to the platform are now "100 percent AI" works. Even so, the contribution of these songs to the total music playback on Apple Music is still very small - even below 0.5 percent.
"The reality is that the use of AI music on Apple Music is very small. If it is rounded, it is still less than 0.5 percent of the total use," Schusser said in an interview published on April 22, 2026. The statement shows a large gap between production volume and listener interest.
With automated music-making tools that can now produce full songs with only a few instructions, distributors easily flood streaming platforms with thousands of new content. However, listener behavior does not change as fast as the pace of production.
Music still depends on cultural relevance, artist identity, and editorial support - something that anonymous generative systems can't fully replicate. Apple seems to have been aware of this threat from the start.
Schusser revealed that the company has developed internal technology to accurately detect AI-generated songs.
"We have developed our own technology that allows us to know exactly what music is sent to us, what AI model is used, and so on," he said.
The system is a second layer of oversight after Apple required labels and distributors to disclose the use of AI in the material they upload.
However, Schusser also admitted that many parties may not fully understand how much AI is involved in their own catalog. Therefore, Apple does not only rely on manual reports, but also independently verifies through internal system analysis.
In addition to the issue of transparency, Apple is also focusing on fraud prevention. Schusser said the policy of penalizing fraudulent activities has proven effective.
"The good news is, our penalties for fraud work very well. We have seen a reduction of about 60 percent over time," he said.
This step is important because the explosion of AI songs has the potential to be used for streaming manipulation for financial gain. On the other hand, Apple continues to emphasize their paid business model as a form of protection against the value of music.
Schusser criticized the free ad-based service which he thought was degrading the work of musicians. "I don't think it's right for songwriters and artists to say that their work will be given for free, especially with very little monetization in return," he said.
Apple Music's approach is different from many competitors. The service does not pursue volume alone, but rather prioritizes curation, radio, device integration, and a premium audio experience.
One example is the development of Spatial Audio with Dolby. Apple chose a technology that can be enjoyed across devices, rather than pushing a lossless format that is considered less optimal for Bluetooth-based wireless headphone dominance.
Even though AI music has not changed the tastes of listeners, its impact is still significant on the distribution system. Content increases drastically, moderation load increases, and the risk of ecosystem distortion is getting bigger. Apple is now building a fence to prevent the flood of machine-made songs from drowning the quality of the service.
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