A supposedly hot new band called The Velvet Sundown racked up over a million Spotify streams before revealing they weren’t real—their music, images, and even their backstory were entirely AI-generated. Now, music industry figures are calling for streaming platforms to label AI-made tracks, sparking a debate about transparency and authenticity in music.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about a fake band going viral—it’s about whether listeners deserve to know when they’re hearing AI-generated content. As AI tools make it easier to mimic human creativity, the music industry is grappling with how to handle these blurred lines. Should platforms flag synthetic artists? And does it matter if the music sounds good? The Velvet Sundown’s rise (and unmasking) is forcing those questions into the spotlight.