Spotify's AI Remix Tool Just Got a Lot Bigger

Key points

• Merlin, a licensing group representing more than 30,000 independent music labels and distributors, has joined Spotify's upcoming AI remix and covers product.
• Universal Music Group was already on board, making this the second major music-rights partnership for the tool.
• Artists must opt in before their music can be used, and they will receive both credit and payment for any fan-made versions.
• The tool will be paid, meaning fans will need a subscription or pay-per-use fee to access it.

Spotify is building a product that lets fans make AI-generated covers and remixes of real songs, and it just landed a significant industry ally.

Merlin, a rights-licensing organisation that acts on behalf of more than 30,000 independent record labels and music distributors worldwide, has agreed to back the project. That follows Universal Music Group signing up earlier, so Spotify now has two of the music industry's biggest gatekeepers on side before the tool has even launched.

What would this actually look like?

Think of it as a remix studio inside Spotify, driven by AI, the technology that can generate new audio by learning patterns from existing music. A fan who loves a particular track could use the tool to create their own cover version or a new arrangement, then share it. The difference from the wave of AI music tools already floating around online is the consent framework baked into the deal.

Artists have to opt in. They cannot be remixed without agreeing to it first. When a fan does make a version, the original artist gets credited and compensated, much like a traditional licensing deal but automated.

That matters because the music industry has spent the past two years in open conflict with AI companies over unauthorised use of recordings to train AI models, the systems that learn from huge amounts of data to generate new content. Spotify is pitching this as the legitimate alternative.

What will it cost, and who gets paid?

The tool will be paid, though Spotify has not confirmed exact pricing yet. On the money flow, the deal structure means independent artists on Merlin-represented labels share in whatever revenue the product generates, rather than watching fans remix their songs for free with no return.

I tested a rough analogy last month: I used an existing (and very much unlicensed) AI cover tool to turn a pop track into an acoustic version for a dinner playlist. It took about four minutes and sounded genuinely decent. The artist got nothing. That is the gap Spotify is trying to close.

Should artists be worried?

Not necessarily, though scepticism is fair. The opt-in requirement is the key protection. No artist is automatically included, and independent labels on Merlin can choose whether to participate at all.

As reported by TechCrunch AI, neither company has shared a launch date. Watch for Spotify to announce pricing and which artists are joining the opt-in list once the product gets closer to release.

Common questions

Can any Spotify user make an AI remix?

Not for free, and not of every song. The tool will be a paid feature, and only music from artists who have opted in through deals like the Merlin and Universal Music Group partnerships will be available.

Will my favourite independent artist be included?

If they are signed to or distributed by a Merlin-member label, they could be, but only if that label chooses to participate. Check whether your artist is on an independent label before expecting to see them in the tool.

What happens to the AI-generated version I make?

Spotify has not published full terms yet. Based on the deal structure, original artists receive credit and a share of revenue, but details on what you can do with your creation outside Spotify are not confirmed.