# Sony Music Demands 260,000 AI Deepfakes Removed

> Sony Music has asked platforms to delete 260,000 AI deepfakes of artists like Harry Styles and Michael Jackson.
- Title: Sony Music Demands 260,000 AI Deepfakes Removed | Shortify
- Summary: Sony Music has asked platforms to delete 260,000 AI deepfakes of artists like Harry Styles and Michael Jackson. Sony Music requested over 260,000 AI deepfake…
- Keywords: sony music, ai deepfakes, harry styles, adele, michael jackson, britney spears, queen, spotify, no fakes act, streaming fraud, ai voice cloning, music
- Source: Music Business Worldwide — https://musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-has-now-asked-platforms-to-remove-more-than-260000-ai-deepfakes-imitating-artists-like-harry-styles-adele-and-michael-jackson
- Published: 2026-10-05T10:19:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sony music, ai deepfakes, harry styles, adele, michael jackson, britney spears, queen, spotify, no fakes act, streaming fraud, ai voice cloning, music
## Sony Music Requests Takedowns
Sony Music asked digital platforms to remove over 260,000 AI-generated tracks impersonating artists by September 2026.
## Double the Previous Request
Sony Music requested more than double the 135,000 deepfakes removed by the end of March 2026.
## Monthly Takedown Rate
Sony issued over 20,000 AI deepfake takedown requests per month in Q2 and Q3 2026.
## Sony's Stance on Deepfakes
Sony described AI deepfakes as tracks imitating artists' voices and likenesses without permission, causing harm to artists and misleading fans.
## Artists Targeted
Sony-affiliated artists including Harry Styles, Adele, Britney Spears, Queen, and Michael Jackson were impersonated by AI deepfakes.
## Spotify's Policy
Spotify prohibits artist impersonation and requires approval for music to appear on artists' profiles.
## Fraudulent Streaming
AI-generated tracks and bots stream music to generate fraudulent royalties for artists and rightsholders.
## Industry Impact
Label executives estimate AI streaming fraud costs the music industry up to $2.2 billion annually.
## Spotify's Response
Spotify introduced Artist Profile Protection to require artist approval before music appears on profiles.
## Key takeaway

Sony Music requested over 260,000 AI deepfake tracks impersonating artists be removed from digital platforms by September 2026.