A viral folk-pop song that soared to the top of Spotify's rankings in Sweden has been formally excluded from the nation's official music chart after it was revealed the artist behind it is partly an artificial intelligence creation.
Chart Success Meets AI Controversy
The track in question, Jag vet, du är inte min (I know, you're not mine), is performed by an artist named Jacub. It led the Swedish Spotify chart and has been streamed more than 5 million times globally, with approximately 200,000 of those plays originating within Sweden itself. The song is part of a six-track EP titled Kärleken är Bränd (Love is Burned).
Despite its popularity, the Swedish music trade body, IFPI Sweden, which compiles the official Sverigetopplistan chart, has barred the song from inclusion. Ludvig Werber, IFPI Sweden's chief executive, stated the organisation's clear rule: "if it is a song that is mainly AI-generated, it does not have the right to be on the top list."
The Investigation Behind the AI Artist
The action was triggered by an investigation by journalist Emanuel Karlsten, who uncovered that the song was registered to a Danish music publisher called Stellar. Notably, two of the credited rights holders work in the company's AI department.
In a statement, Stellar confirmed that "the artist Jacub's voice and parts of the music are generated with the help of AI as a tool in our creative process." The company emphasised it is a music firm run by creative professionals, not a tech outfit, and argued that creating the hit required significant human input and artistic vision, distancing itself from mass-produced "AI music slop."
Broader Implications for the Music Industry
This incident highlights the growing tension between rapidly advancing AI technology and traditional music industry structures. It is not an isolated case; last year, an AI-generated "band" named Velvet Sundown also amassed millions of streams before its artificial origins were revealed.
Campaigners like composer Ed Newton-Rex argue that Jacub's success underscores the urgent need for mandatory AI labelling on platforms like Spotify. "If Spotify told users when they were listening to AI music this wouldn't have made it so high in the charts, taking streams and royalties away from human musicians," he said.
Spotify, which is headquartered in Sweden, currently does not require AI-generated music to be labelled. However, the platform has stated it is backing a new voluntary industry standard for disclosing AI use, being developed by the non-profit DDEX. The company has also been cracking down on AI-made spam tracks designed to fraudulently generate royalties.
The exclusion of Jacub's song from Sweden's official chart sets a significant precedent, forcing the global music industry to confront difficult questions about creativity, authenticity, and regulation in the age of artificial intelligence.
