Spotify is preparing a new AI-powered feature that will let listeners create covers and remixes from participating artists' songs, with artist consent at the center of the model. The company first highlighted the product during its second-quarter earnings call and said it is designed to support interactive music rather than replace human creativity.
As part of the expansion, Merlin, the licensing network for independent labels and distributors, has joined the initiative alongside Universal Music Group. That addition brings access to more than 30,000 labels in Merlin's ecosystem, widening the potential catalog for artists who choose to take part.
Spotify says the tool will work differently from fully synthetic AI music systems. Co-CEO Gustav Söderström described the concept as focused on "real artists, not fake artists," while co-CEO Alex Norström emphasized consent, credit, and compensation as the foundation of the project.
The company plans to begin with a research preview for a limited group of users. Spotify also noted that the experience will not require a complete catalog to launch, and the feature is expected to arrive as a paid add-on that could create a new income stream for artists.
With this approach, Spotify is positioning AI as a collaborative layer for music creation, where fans can experiment and artists can participate on their own terms. The move could help shape a more transparent and creator-friendly future for interactive music.
