Spotify Listeners Fooled by AI Band Velvet Sundown’s Viral Success

Millions of Spotify users were drawn to The Velvet Sundown, a band whose music and story seemed all too real. Their viral success, with over a million streams, was built entirely on artificial intelligence.
The band’s albums, Floating On Echoes and Dust And Silence, won fans with their authentic sound. The deception was so deep that even seasoned listeners were convinced of the band’s humanity.
The truth surfaced when an insider revealed that Suno, a generative AI, was responsible for the entire operation. Denials from the band’s representatives gave way to an online admission as evidence mounted.
The case has exposed flaws in how streaming platforms handle AI music. Industry professionals are now calling for mandatory labels to inform listeners when music is AI-generated, safeguarding trust in digital music.