Spotify removes fake Anne Murray tracks amid surge of AI-generated knock-offs
Five tracks credited to Anne Murray appeared on her official Spotify page on Jan. 26 and were removed after the Toronto Star queried Spotify. The songs and artwork showed clear signs of AI generation.
Copy link
By Torontoer Staff
Five tracks credited to Anne Murray were uploaded to the singer’s official Spotify profile on Jan. 26 and remained available for several days before the streaming service removed them following inquiries from the Toronto Star. The recordings did not feature Murray’s characteristic voice and included artwork and production traits commonly associated with AI-generated content.
Spotify confirmed the tracks were taken down and said it is investing in detection and prevention tools to protect artists’ identities. The incident underscores a wider problem of fraudulent and synthetic music appearing on major platforms, with artists old and new facing unauthorised uploads and misleading metadata.
What appeared on Anne Murray’s profile
The five tracks were visible on Murray’s verified Spotify account beginning Jan. 26, listed as copyrighted to “Anne murray” and promoted through Spotify’s recommendation algorithms. Listeners and the platform’s personalised queues were directed to the items alongside Murray’s legitimate catalogue.
None of the songs matched Murray’s known vocal tone. Instead they featured a higher-pitched, contemporary country-style voice more akin to performers such as Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Two tracks shared the same title, “When You Say My Name,” but contained different compositions and lyrics. One opening bore a piano refrain reminiscent of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”
The artwork for the uploads also displayed telltale signs of being machine generated, a phenomenon sometimes labelled “AI slop,” with generic imagery and visual inconsistencies that do not fit Murray’s established aesthetic.
Spotify’s response
After the Toronto Star asked about the tracks, Spotify removed them from Murray’s profile and provided a statement describing efforts to curb bad submissions. The company said it is working with distributors to block problematic uploads before they go live and is enhancing the speed and scope of its content mismatch review process.
Protecting artists’ identities is a top priority, and we are investing heavily in detection and prevention. This includes controls with distributors to block bad submissions before they go live, faster review through our content mismatch process, and tools that allow artists to report issues even prior to release.
Spotify
Spotify also noted the platform has added tools for artists to flag potential problems and said it is allocating resources to improve automated detection. The fake Murray tracks were not listed on Apple Music or Amazon Music at the time of reporting, and Universal Music Canada had not responded to requests for comment.
A pattern across streaming services
This is not an isolated incident. Over the past year, verified artist pages have been populated with unauthorised uploads. Members of bands such as Toto have publicly flagged fake songs appearing on their profiles, and deceased musicians have seen synthetic vocals added to new tracks attributed to their names.
The problem combines several failures: lax checks at distribution, imperfect automated detection, and the ease of creating convincing synthetic vocals and artwork. Once live, these tracks can spread quickly through algorithmic recommendations, exposing listeners and diverting streams from legitimate releases.
How artists and listeners can respond
- Artists should monitor their profiles and claim official accounts with platforms that offer verification and reporting tools.
- Labels and distributors must tighten submission checks and require stronger provenance for uploads.
- Listeners can report suspicious tracks through the platform’s reporting tools and avoid sharing or promoting items whose origin is unclear.
- Platforms should prioritise faster takedown processes and clearer disclosure when content is generated or altered by AI.
Industry groups and rights holders have been urging streaming services to implement stricter controls and transparent labelling for AI-generated material. Without stronger systems, platforms risk eroding trust among artists and listeners alike.
Where this leaves Anne Murray’s catalogue
Murray retired from active performing two decades ago but released a legitimate collection of previously unreleased material, Here You Are, last September. The fake uploads were separate and unauthorised, and their presence briefly complicated access to Murray’s verified profile for fans trying to find her official recordings.
Spotify’s takedown restores the official catalogue for now, but the incident adds to mounting pressure on streaming services to prevent future incursions, and to provide clearer protections for artist identity and creative rights.
Anne MurraySpotifyAI musicstreamingmusic industry
