The band The Velvet Sundown has sparked concerns about whether AI is being used openly and honestly
A mysterious music group named The Velvet Sundown has taken over streaming platforms like Spotify, drawing massive attention—but not for the usual reasons. The band has quickly racked up close to a million listeners, yet there’s a catch: it might not be a real band at all. Many now believe the music is completely generated by artificial intelligence.
Listeners on Reddit and TikTok were the first to spotlight the band when two full albums suddenly appeared online in June. Curious fans started questioning who was behind the music—only to discover there might be no humans involved at all.
In a promotional video for The Velvet Sundown, a voice eerily asks, “Are you sure we’re not real?” That cryptic line has become the heart of a growing debate about the future of AI in music.
Sounds Like Rock, But Is It Real?
Music journalist Eric Alper gave the tunes a try. He described them as catchy and similar to 1970s southern rock bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Kansas. Alper added that the music was “pretty good,” but there’s been no proof of who made it—or whether it was made by people at all.
A 2023 Billboard study found that over a third of the Hot 100 songs used some form of AI. But The Velvet Sundown might take it even further—being entirely machine-made. And it’s not the only one. Another AI band, The Devil Inside, also gained attention with over 1.7 million streams for its song Bones in the River.
Streaming Platforms: No Rules, No Labels
Currently, major platforms like Spotify don’t require artists to mention if a song was created using AI. That means users might be unknowingly streaming machine-made music.
The band's top song on streaming platforms right now is “Dust on the Wind.” (CTV News)
However, the French platform Deezer is taking a different approach. In April, it reported that nearly 20,000 AI songs are uploaded to its service daily. In response, Deezer launched a tool to flag AI-generated tracks so users know exactly what they’re listening to.
“AI isn’t good or bad,” said Deezer’s CEO Alexis Lanternier. “But being honest with listeners is essential.” Lanternier also told NBC News that he’s certain The Velvet Sundown is “100 per cent” created by AI.
Music Industry Faces Legal and Ethical Storm
As AI music spreads, artists are pushing back. Some musicians and songwriters are suing AI platforms, claiming their work was used without permission to train AI models.
Websites like Suno and Udio now let anyone create full songs just by typing a few words. And tech analysts say it’s getting harder to tell whether a song is made by a person or a computer.
“It’s like the wild west on Spotify,” said CTV tech analyst Carmi Levy. “You can upload anything, and there’s no rule saying you have to tell people it’s AI.”
What Do Listeners Think?
CTV News interviewed people in downtown Toronto to hear their views. Yasmin Mkalaf said she wouldn’t listen to a song if she knew it was made by AI—even if it sounded good. “They should be clear about it,” she said.
Others, like Paul Groche, didn’t mind. “If I like the song, I’ll listen—doesn’t matter if it’s AI,” he said.
But Mahshad Jalali felt conflicted. “I pay for Spotify, and now I don’t like that I’m unknowingly supporting AI music.”
What's Next?
Experts say clear labelling is needed before the music industry loses listener trust. Levy added, “Whether it’s the tech world or music scene—or just everyday listeners—we need agreed-upon rules. Right now, it’s a free-for-all.”
