SONY MUSIC - Experts Need a Plan Before AI Copies Them

<p>Sony Music says it has asked digital platforms to remove more than 260,000 AI-generated tracks impersonating its artists, including Harry Styles, Adele, Britney Spears, Queen and Michael Jackson.That total was approximately 135,000 at the end of March. Music Business Worldwide calculates that the increase represents an average of more than 20,000 takedown requests per month during the second and third quarters of 2026.This is bigger than a music-industry story.If artificial intelligence can copy some of the world’s most recognizable voices, what should experts, authors, speakers, executives and creators do to establish and protect their own identities online?In this episode of Think Like a Producer, Jamie Maglietta examines the angles intellectual-property attorneys, digital-identity specialists, platform-policy experts, crisis communicators and creators can use to discuss:• Why takedown systems are struggling to keep up • The difference between AI-generated music, impersonation and streaming fraud • Whether platforms should detect synthetic content • How experts can establish an authentic, verifiable presence • The visibility paradox: Showing up builds trust, but also creates material that can be copied Being visible will not prevent impersonation. But a consistent public record of your real face, voice and ideas can help audiences recognize what is authentic and give you something to point toward when a fake appears.SOURCES:Music Business Worldwide: Sony Music’s 260,000 takedown requests https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-has-now-asked-platforms-to-remove-more-than-260000-ai-deepfakes-imitating-artists-like-harry-styles-adele-and-michael-jackson/Music Week: Sony Music deepfake takedown report https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/report-sony-music-doubles-ai-deepfake-takedowns-to-more-than-260-000/095142Deezer: AI music exceeds 50 percent of daily uploads at its June peak https://newsroom-deezer.com/2026/07/ai-music-exceeds-50-percent-daily-uploads-deezer/U.S. Department of Justice: AI-assisted music-streaming fraud case https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/north-carolina-man-pleads-guilty-music-streaming-fraud-aided-artificial-intelligence-0Think Like a Producer helps experts use the news, find an angle they can responsibly own and build recognizable authority online.This episode is sponsored by ON CAM Ready. Jamie helps professionals turn their expertise into a visible, media-ready platform and become the source reporters call.Connect