Spotify has taken stock of its first year of putting, in its own words, “human creativity first.” In its October 20, 2026, press release, the company reports that this year it has removed more than 50 million tracks from its recommendations that were considered “slop” (low-quality, mass-produced music generated by AI) or spam from its recommendations, that it now has more than 300,000 verified artists, and that artists submit tens of thousands of credits every day indicating which parts of a song were created using AI.
The direction is clear: platforms reward what can be verified—a verified profile, a claimed credit, a real person behind the music. But there’s one question these tools don’t answer: Who verifies a song’s authorship and the date it was created? Spotify can confirm that there’s an identifiable person behind a profile. What it doesn’t verify is how long your song has existed or that it came from you.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what’s happening, why the release date of your work matters more than ever, and how you can document it starting today.
What exactly has Spotify announced?
Here are the measures the platform details in its update:
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Removed from recommendations. More than 50 million slop or spam tracks have been removed from recommendations this year, in addition to more than 75 million tracks that have been permanently deleted due to serious or repeated violations of the platform’s guidelines.
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AI Credits. Since April, artists have been able to indicate which parts or instruments in a song were created using AI. Tens of thousands of credits are now submitted every day and appear in the song’s credits.
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Verified by Spotify. More than 300,000 verified artists, representing more than 99% of what people search for on the platform. More than 70% are independent. The badge indicates that there is a real, identifiable person behind the music.
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Profile Protection. This feature allows artists to review releases listed under their name before they appear on their page. Thousands of artists have tested it in beta, and Spotify will make it available to everyone before the end of the year.
These are useful steps. They protect the artist’s identity and provide context for the listener. But they all revolve around the artist’s profile and published catalog, not the work itself.
The problem: the work still lacks a “trademark”
While platforms organize profiles, the legal battle is being waged over the works themselves. In the last week alone:
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The publishing company Reservoir Media has filed two lawsuits in California against Suno and Anthropic, according to Digital Music News (October 22, 2026). It accuses both companies of using its catalog without a license: 1,050 works in the case of Suno, with approximately $186 million in damages sought, and 853 works in the case of Anthropic, with approximately $151 million.
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Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Elvis Presley catalog, has sued Anthropic over 274 songs, including “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” according to The Guardian (October 25, 2026). It is seeking $150,000 per song, for a total of about $41 million.
Notice what these cases have in common: claims are made on a song-by-song basis. Each song must be identified, with a clear title and dates. The major catalogs have had this figured out for decades, with contracts, registrations, and archives.
If you’re an independent artist, maybe not. Your demos are scattered across your phone, a hard drive, and some chat apps. If an AI-generated track—or one by someone else—pops up tomorrow that sounds suspiciously like your chorus, could you prove that your version existed first?
Private registries are already here, but everyone claims to do things their own way
The industry is taking steps to fill that gap. On October 20, the U.S. company DCRR Registry launched a private registry to document works created by humans, assisted by AI, or generated by AI. It allows users to record contributors, creation dates, versions, and licenses.
Its press release is very candid about its limitations: the platform records the information provided by users, but does not itself determine the authorship, ownership, or originality of a work, and registration does not guarantee rights or legal priority.
It’s a good lesson for any artist. No private registry decides who wins a dispute; that’s determined, if necessary, by professionals and the courts. What makes the difference is the quality of the evidence you have prepared: that the date is accurate, that no one can alter it later, and that anyone can verify it.
How to verify the authorship of a song with a date: what Shamusic does
At Shamusic, we focus precisely on that aspect: turning every song into verifiable, dated proof of authorship.
Here’s how it works, in three steps:
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A digital fingerprint of your file. When you upload a demo, lyrics, a beat, a melody, or the final version, a unique code is generated based on the file. If the file changes—even by just one second of audio—the code changes.
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Anchored in the blockchain. That record is stored on a blockchain—a kind of public ledger that no one can alter afterward, not even us. That sets the date and time.
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Stored on IPFS. Your works are stored on IPFS, a decentralized storage system: the archive does not depend on a single computer, nor can it be altered without being noticed.
The result is a certificate that includes the date and time, a digital fingerprint of your file, the authors and their respective percentages, and a link so anyone can verify it. You’ll have it in minutes, every time you finish an idea or a new version.
In addition, since October 2025, Shamusic has had a partnership agreement with the SGAE. Thanks to this agreement, anyone who uses Shamusic can sign up as a member of the SGAE, register their compositions there, and collect royalties generated by their works during live performances, on streaming platforms, on the radio, or on television. We explain this in detail in our article about the agreement.
Put another way: Spotify verifies that it’s you. Shamusic keeps a record of what you created and when.
Why do this as soon as the song exists?
A certificate is dated as of the moment you create it. It cannot be made “retroactive.” That’s why it makes sense to register each work as soon as it’s created—starting with the very first demo—rather than waiting until it’s published or a problem arises.
With AI-generated music causing the number of tracks uploaded each day to multiply, having your dates documented is a simple way to stay prepared. And it also helps with day-to-day tasks: splitting royalties with your co-authors, sending a demo to a label, or entering a contest—all while knowing that your version is officially registered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Spotify Verified badge protect my songs?
It indicates that there is a real, identifiable person behind the profile, and profile protection allows you to review what is posted in your name. However, it does not record the creation date of your works or their authorship.
Do I have to disclose if I’ve used AI in a song?
On Spotify, AI credits let you indicate which parts of a track were created using AI, and the platform displays them in the song’s credits. It’s a way to provide transparency to your listeners.
What do I need to register a song on Shamusic?
Just the file (a demo, lyrics, a beat, or the final version) and the authors’ information. The certificate is generated in minutes.
Start verifying your works today
Platforms are already verifying artists. The release date and origin of your songs are up to you. Create your Shamusic account and register your works: the free plan includes your first three registrations.
