Apple Music has introduced Transparency Tags, a new metadata system that will help identify and label AI-generated content. The announcement reportedly came in a newsletter sent to music industry partners on Wednesday. Distributors and record labels can now use the system to label content that is submitted to the platform.
Metadata is the labeling method used to identify, organize and categorize content on the platform and may include basic information such as song title, album title, artwork and genre. Apple Music’s new Transparency Tags focus on four key elements: track (the music), composition (the lyrics), artwork and music video.
These metadata tags will be added during the submission process, allowing distributors to flag music that contains AI-generated content falling into one of the four categories listed above. The goal of this move is to increase transparency around the methodology the company uses for AI in music.
Last year, Spotify made a similar announcement that it would implement stronger AI protections.
There is a catch, though. In the newsletter, Apple reportedly said it’ll rely on the content providers to decide what qualifies as AI-generated content. Apple Music’s Transparency Tag system currently operates on an opt-in basis. In Apple’s specs for this update, it says, “If omitted, none is assumed.” Basically, record labels and distributors can simply choose not to participate.
An Apple representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
