The Financial Times reports that Spotify aims to launch a paid, AI-powered remixing service in the first quarter of 2027, potentially coinciding with the February Grammy Awards. The tool would cost subscribers an additional $4 to $5 per month and would allow users to create and upload their own versions of songs, such as transforming a folk song into a dance track or simulating one artist covering another's music. Royalties from these fan-created tracks would reportedly flow back to the original artists, and plays would count toward the original songs in Spotify's charts.
Spotify has reportedly secured licensing deals for the service with Universal Music Group, independent label group Merlin, and French music company Believe. The company is still negotiating agreements with Sony Music and Warner Music. The service would include a mechanism allowing musicians to veto the use of their music, even if their record label has signed an agreement with Spotify. While some established older artists have shown willingness to participate, the report noted that several unnamed major contemporary stars are pushing back against the plan.
Co-CEO Alex Norström defended the remixing plans in May, arguing that a licensed, controlled service was preferable to unauthorized AI music, while promising artist consent and compensation. However, composer and artists' rights advocate Ed Newton-Rex warned that permitting fans to share their creations could flood Spotify with AI remixes, potentially crowding out other songs and pressuring more musicians to participate.
Spotify previously revealed that in 2025, it removed 75 million AI-generated spam tracks using a dedicated team to tackle low-effort uploads, distinguishing this from legitimate AI-assisted music. Other industry concerns include fraud and attribution; Deezer stated last year that 70% of streams of AI-generated music were fraudulent, and Sony has reportedly developed technology to identify original music influencing AI tracks to help rights holders seek compensation.
