Folk artist Murphy Campbell was shocked to discover AI-generated versions of her songs on Spotify, falsely claiming her name. She spent months battling for their removal but still faces the shadow of multiple Murphys haunting her YouTube profile.

Her ordeal highlights a growing issue: large tech companies’ promises to protect artists are often unfulfilled. Campbell is wary of Spotify’s new approval system and wonders if it will truly serve musicians or just add another layer to the complexity.

The nightmare deepened when Vydia, a content distribution company, uploaded videos claiming ownership over public domain songs in Murphy’s videos, leading to confused revenue sharing notices. Vydia maintains they operate ‘the right way’ but Campbell remains skeptical about who exactly is behind these claims and whether there are deeper issues within the tech and copyright landscape.

Despite the challenges, Campbell believes the problems run even deeper than what she has encountered. The intertwined worlds of generative AI, music distribution and copyright protection present a minefield for artists like her, where vigilance is key to survival.