King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard targeted by AI Clone on Spotify After Protest
A concerning new case of AI impersonation has emerged on Spotify, victimizing the Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard just months after they removed their entire music catalog from the platform in protest. An unauthorized account, operating under the name “King lizard Wizard,” uploaded AI-generated tracks mimicking the band’s distinctive sound, raising serious questions about artist protection in the age of artificial intelligence.
The fraudulent account uploaded songs wiht the same titles and lyrics as legitimate King Gizzard tracks, suggesting the perpetrator utilized the band’s existing work to train an AI music generator. In a especially unsettling detail, some of the counterfeit uploads even falsely credited King Gizzard frontman Stu Mackenzie as the composer and lyricist. These tracks gained traction through Spotify’s algorithmic recommendations, appearing in users’ Release Radar playlists and accumulating tens of thousands of streams before being removed by the platform.
“I’m trying to see the irony in this situation,” Mackenzie told the Music, adding, “But seriously wtf we are truly doomed.”
This incident marks the second time King Gizzard has faced impersonation on Spotify. The band initially departed the streaming service in july as a direct response to CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in helsinga, a defense company developing AI-powered military drone technology – a move the band publicly opposed.
Spotify swiftly removed the infringing content and confirmed that no royalties were paid to the fraudulent account, reiterating that artist impersonation is a violation of its platform policies. The company updated its AI impersonation policy in September, stating: “Unauthorised use of AI to clone an artist’s voice exploits their identity, undermines their artistry, and threatens the fundamental integrity of their work. Some artists may choose to license their voices to AI projects-and that’s their choice to make. Our job is to do what we can to ensure that the choice stays in their hands.”
Despite these policy updates, the King Gizzard case highlights the notable challenges streaming services face in proactively identifying and removing AI-generated content that infringes on the rights of established artists. the incident underscores the urgent need for robust safeguards to protect musicians and their creative work in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Why did this happen? The Australian band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard were targeted by an unauthorized account on Spotify that used AI to generate music mimicking their style. The perpetrator likely used the band’s existing discography to train an AI music generator.
Who was involved? King Gizzard & The Lizard wizard were the victims. The perpetrator operated under the name “King Lizard Wizard.” Spotify was the platform where the infringement occurred, and CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in a defense company initially prompted the band’s departure from the service.
What occurred? AI-generated tracks, falsely credited to band members, were uploaded to Spotify, gained traction through algorithmic recommendations, and accumulated tens of thousands of streams before being removed.
How did it end? Spotify removed the infringing content, confirmed no royalties were paid to the fraudulent account, and reiterated its policy against artist impersonation. The company also updated its AI impersonation policy in september.
