AI-generated music is no longer a future concern. It’s already part of the mainstream music licensing landscape. But as AI tools become more common, one question keeps surfacing across film, TV, advertising, and content creation: How do we know where music really comes from, and does it matter?
The state of AI transparency in music: what the industry really thinks
Together with Cyanite and Marmoset, we surveyed 144 music licensing professionals to understand how they feel about AI-generated music and what information they need to make confident choices.
The answer was clear: 97% want to know whether a track is human-made or AI-generated. Nearly half say they will only work with human-made music, while others are open to AI, but only if it’s clearly labelled. Transparency isn’t a “nice to have” anymore; it’s the baseline.
What surprised us most was that the conversation didn’t stop at AI. Over half of respondents want richer context about the music itself: who created it, where it comes from, and why it was made. Cultural background, creative intent, and production details are increasingly shaping how music is selected, trusted, and licensed.
Our findings point to a shift: AI disclosure is expected, but context is what gives human creativity its value.