DistroKid has been quietly taking down songs in response to UMG lawsuit

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DistroKid has been quietly taking down songs in response to UMG lawsuit

TL;DR

  • Artists are complaining on social media about DistroKid removing their songs without notice.
  • DistroKid confirmed to The Verge that the takedowns are in response to claims made by UMG.
  • UMG sued DistroKid in September, alleging it created an "AI-slop pipeline."
  • Artists claim their non-AI works are being removed in the purge.
  • Musicians like McGwire, Insane Ian, and King Chase reported removals without explanation.
  • Artists found it difficult to contact DistroKid for clarification, facing bot responses.
  • DistroKid's VP of Artist Services stated that a small number of recordings were removed in response to UMG's claims, while disputing the lawsuit's allegations.
  • DistroKid is working to minimize disruption for artists while protecting their ability to release music.