Have You Ever Heard a Song That Wasn’t Real?

Remember that thrill of hearing a song and wondering, "Who sang this?" That mystery used to be an exciting part of music discovery. But now, there's a twist: What if the artist or even the song wasn't real at all? 

In an era where algorithms influence what we listen to, knowing what’s trending is essential for artists and content creators. Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool spots rising trends, predicts which sounds and posting times drive views, and points you toward the clips most likely to convert attention into earnings and brand opportunities. 

Streaming the Unreal

AI-generated music isn’t just an experiment anymore, it’s everywhere. Entire bands that may not even “exist” in the traditional sense are pulling millions of streams. One example? The Velvet Sundown, a group that racked up nearly a million Spotify plays in just a few weeks—only for fans to later realize it wasn’t a real band at all, but an AI-driven project.

They’re not alone. Another AI-generated act, The Devil Inside, has also gained traction. And who could forget the viral track that sounded like a fresh Drake and The Weeknd collab, except it wasn’t them. It was a TikTok user known as Ghostwriter977, who used AI to mimic their voices so convincingly that it fooled millions before the truth came out.

Viral Tracks, Virtual Artists

The concept of faceless musical acts has existed for years. Take Gorillaz - they pioneered the idea of animated band members, turning anonymity into an artistic statement. In the 2000s we got Yamaha's Vocaloid technology, which introduced synthetic vocals and spawned digital idols like Hatsune Miku. These virtual popstars amassed massive fanbases, performed sold-out concerts, and even collaborated with real-world musicians. 

But here’s the difference: behind the Vocaloid and Gorillaz songs were still human creators. There are producers writing lyrics, composing melodies, and programming every note. The tech was a tool and vessel, not the artist.

AI changes the game completely. Modern systems can now produce full songs from scratch, including lyrics, melodies, and vocals, with just a simple starting prompt as input. This is how projects like The Velvet Sundown emerged, achieving nearly a million Spotify streams in weeks despite having no physical members. We've moved beyond just concealing identities, now creating music without human involvement at all.

Why This Shift Matters

Music has constantly transformed alongside technology, from vinyl records to digital streaming. But AI brings a fundamental shift: it could potentially displace human creativity entirely. Earlier innovations amplified what artists could do, while today's AI produces complete songs devoid of personal experience or emotional depth. 

This challenges our definitions of real artistry and authenticity. With algorithms outpacing human creators in composition and production speed, are we witnessing true innovation, or just sophisticated mimicry?

Your Chill Beats? Courtesy of AI

Streaming platforms like Spotify are filling up with AI-made tracks and fake artists, and are struggling to keep up with purging them. You'll find them everywhere in ambient and lo-fi playlists, where anonymous creators pump out stock music under invented names, often to avoid paying royalties to real musicians. With their newly launched AI detection tool, Deezer reports that 18% of daily uploads (around 20,000 tracks) are AI-generated.  70% of the streams are fake, and are artificially boosted by bots to increase royalty payouts.

The Great AI Music Debate

The Upside: Many see AI as a game-changer that levels the playing field in music. It gives artists new ways to break through creative blocks, try different sounds, and create professional-quality work without expensive studio resources. Now smaller artists can access tools that were previously only available to big labels, leading to more innovative styles and genre-blending tracks.

The Downside: Some push back against AI music, saying it misses the human element. It’s lacking the raw emotion of heartbreak or joy that makes songs resonate. There are also legal and financial gray areas: if an AI writes a song, who owns it? Who gets paid? The developer, the user, or no one at all? Artists like Grimes support clear collaboration rules, while critics worry synthetic music could cheapen the value of human-made art.

The Future of Music

AI can be a valuable collaborator, but unchecked automation risks reducing music to mere algorithmic content, stripping away its soul. 

As AI continues to evolve, the music industry will need to strike a balance. Artists and creators will need to find ways to use AI as a tool while ensuring that the heart of music: its ability to move, inspire, and create, ultimately remains in human hands.