iHeartRadio bans AI music from its stations

American media company iHeartRadio has issued a company-wide ban on AI-generated music and synthetic voices across its network of 850 stations worldwide.  

It has launched a ‘Guaranteed Human Initiative’, led by chief programming officer and president Tom Poleman, in response to listener concerns.

A recent study by parent company iHeartMedia revealed that nine in 10 respondents believed that it was important to know that the media they consume is created by real people. 

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“iHeart is one of the last truly human entertainment sources, and our listeners come to us for companionship, connection, and authenticity, something AI can’t replicate,” Poleman wrote in a staff memo. 

AI-generated music is flooding platforms, making it harder for listeners to distinguish it from human-generated music. 

Three AI-generated songs recently topped the Billboard and Spotify charts, raising concerns about authenticity, creativity and the future of music. 

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