AI-generated music has arrived—but it isn't welcome everywhere

A representative study from Germany shows that AI-generated music is already part of everyday life for many people. At the same time, a clear majority calls for clear labeling and compensation for music creators. Even though the study was conducted in Germany, its key findings are likely to be largely applicable to Switzerland as well.

Four out of ten people in Germany have already consciously listened to music generated by artificial intelligence. Among 16- to 29-year-olds, the figure is 63 percent. This is shown by the second «Musikmonitor Deutschland» report from the German Music Information Center (miz).

Among those surveyed who have already listened to AI-generated music, opinions are divided: 48 percent liked it a lot or very much, while about one-third rated it as not very good or not good at all. At the same time, only 28 percent of the general population believes that artificial intelligence can produce music that is just as good or better than that created by a human.

For this representative study, the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research conducted a total of 1,040 in-person interviews with people aged 16 and older in July 2026.

Human authorship remains important
For 56 percent of those surveyed, it is important that the music they listen to was created by a person. Additionally, 41 percent say that music can only move them if they know a person is behind it.

At the same time, the majority doubts that the origin of a piece of music can be reliably identified. Fifty-one percent believe it is difficult to distinguish between music created by humans and music generated by machines, while another 15 percent believe it is even impossible.

How AI is viewed in the music industry depends heavily on how it is used. It is widely accepted when used as a tool: 74 percent approve of its use in restoring old or damaged recordings. 47 percent support the use of AI in music production, and 42 percent support its use as an aid in developing melodies.

Support drops significantly when AI replaces human creativity. Only 15 percent think it’s okay for musical pieces to be composed without human involvement. Sixteen percent accept fully artificial singing voices, while only 10 percent accept the imitation of a specific musician’s voice.

There are also clear limitations when it comes to playing AI-generated music: It is widely accepted in video games, advertisements, and music videos. However, acceptance rates are 22 percent for streaming services, 15 percent for radio, and 4 percent for live concerts.

A Clear Call for Rules
Two-thirds of those surveyed support clearly labeling AI-generated music. Additionally, 58 percent insist that musicians and composers be compensated when their works are used to train AI models. An equal number view artificial intelligence as a threat to the livelihoods of music creators.

The study thus does not indicate a blanket rejection of artificial intelligence. It is accepted primarily as a supportive tool. Approval drops significantly when it replaces human creativity, imitates human voices, or its use is not recognizable. Labeling, compensation, and the protection of human authorship are therefore likely to be among the central music policy issues in Switzerland in the coming years.

The full study is available here: Music and Artificial Intelligence – Musikmonitor Deutschland