Scene
Spotify listeners browsing the discographies of late musicians Blaze Foley and Guy Clark were recently met with something unexpected: new tracks – ones that neither artist ever recorded, according to a new report from 404 Media.
At first glance, the songs appeared to be previously unreleased material. They carried the artists names, featured AI-generated cover art, and were listed alongside their official works. But as fans and estate managers quickly pointed out, these tracks were not posthumous discoveries. They were AI-generated fakes, uploaded without approval and disguised as authentic works by two beloved American songwriters, both long deceased.
One track, “Together,” was uploaded via TikTok’s distribution service SoundOn and credited to an unknown entity named “Syntax Error.” It featured generic instrumentation and a synthetic vocal mimicking Foley’s voice. But for Craig McDonald, who manages Foley’s estate, the imitation was obvious, he shared with 404 Media.
“I can clearly tell you this song is not Blaze. It’s kind of an AI schlock bot,” McDonald told reporters, calling the move deceptive and damaging to Foley’s legacy. Similar tracks appeared on Guy Clark’s profile – another posthumous impersonation presented as a real release.
Spotify has since removed the content, citing violations of its deceptive content policy. But the backlash highlights a deeper issue: how easily AI-generated music can slip past moderation and into public streaming spaces, even under verified artist names.
The ethical concerns are serious. These aren’t parody tracks or speculative remixes. They’re AI imitations placed directly on profiles of dead artists, misleading fans and muddying the legacy of musicians who can’t defend their work.
While Spotify says it’s reviewing its policies, the incident has sparked calls for stronger verification, clearer labeling of AI-generated music, and legal protections for posthumous artistic identity. Without meaningful oversight, cases like this may only grow more common.
As AI tools evolve, the music industry faces a critical question: how do we balance innovation with integrity, especially when the voices being replicated are no longer here to object?
