News
Famous-singer voice-clone AI tracks: distribution takedown requests nearly doubled in six months — Sony Music asked platforms to remove 260,000+
On 5 October 2026 the FT reported Sony Music had asked platforms, by end-September, to remove more than 260,000 generative-AI deepfake tracks imitating its artists’ voices and likenesses without permission. Nearly double the ~135,000 at end-March. Request counts, not confirmed removals. Primary FT is paywalled; confirmed via secondary reports.
What happened
On 5 October 2026 the Financial Times reported that Sony Music had, by the end of September, asked digital platforms to take down more than 260,000 generative-AI deepfake tracks imitating its artists’ voices and likenesses without permission. Sony told the FT this was “happening at scale,” “harms artists, misleads fans and undermines the ethical use of AI,” and that it expects platforms to act quickly and prevent the same content from reappearing, but that it is becoming an “uphill struggle.” Named examples: Harry Styles, Adele, Britney Spears, Queen, Michael Jackson.
What changed
The tally is nearly double the about 135,000 sought by end-March. MBW’s series: more than 75,000 by March 2025 (UK government AI-copyright consultation filing) → more than 135,000 in March 2026 (first reported by the BBC) → more than 260,000 by end-September. These are takedown-request counts. The FT did not report how many tracks were actually removed, how fast platforms acted, or which services were asked (MBW). This is not a court ruling, a new statute, or a new platform term of service.
Whose work this affects
This hits distribution and the use of real-artist names in voice models or prompts. Commercial YouTube, game, and streaming BGM, vocals, or beats that specify a living singer’s name or vocal timbre can overlap the type Sony is asking platforms to remove as unlicensed voice and likeness imitation. Because Sony also wants reappearance blocked, a re-upload via another route is still likely in scope. Destination DSPs were not named, so this is not a confirmed wipe across all services.
Do this today
Before delivery, check each job for real-artist names or vocal-timbre cues in prompts or voice models, and note the result in the job folder.
Sources
Primary: Financial Times (5 October 2026, paywalled). Figures, Sony quotes, and named artists confirmed via Music Business Worldwide, Music Week, The Verge, and Digital Music News. Clickable URLs at the end.
Source: Financial Times（二次報道で確認）