By: Kelvin Chan

Is it The Velvet Underground or Velvet Sundown?

The fictitious rock group, Velvet Sundown, which comes complete with AI-generated music, lyrics and album art, is stoking debate about how the new technology is blurring the line between the real and synthetic in the music industry, and whether creators should be transparent with their audience.

Computer software is widely used in music production, and artificial intelligence is just the latest tool that disc jockeys, music producers and others have added to their production pipeline. But the rise of AI song generators such as Suno and Udio is set to transform the industry because they allow anyone to create songs with just a few prompts.

While some people do not care whether they’re listening to AI-generated music, others might be curious to know.

If you encounter a new song that leaves you wondering whether it’s 100% made with AI, there are some methods that could reveal how it was created.

Do a background check

If you’re wondering who’s behind a song, try some old-fashioned detective work.

The “most obvious cues” come from “external factors,” said Manuel Mousallam, head of research and development at streaming service Deezer.

Does the band or artist have social media accounts? Lack of a social presence might indicate there’s no one there. If they do exist online, examine the kind of content they post, and how long it goes back.

Is there any sign that the artist or band exists in real life? Are there any upcoming concerts and can you buy a ticket for a gig? Is there footage of past concerts on You Tube? Has an established record label released their singles or albums?

Try going to the source. Song creators often – but not always – publish their generated tunes on the Suno or Udio platforms, where they can be found by other users.

The catch is that you’ll have to sign up for an account to get access. Users can look up songs by track name or the creator’s handle, and browse genres and playlists. But it can still be difficult to spot a song, especially if you don’t know the name of the song or creator.

(AP)