As of August 2, 2026, the transparency requirements established by Article 50 of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act — Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, or the EU AI Act — apply. These requirements concern AI systems and content created or modified using artificial intelligence.

In response to the new legal requirements, metadata delivery standards, and music platform policies, mandatory fields concerning the use of AI have been added to the release form.

This guide explains where the new fields are located and how to complete them correctly.

We have covered the legal aspects — including who the requirements apply to, what qualifies as AI-generated content, and what obligations arise when publishing it — in a separate article, “AI Content Labelling.” This guide focuses only on completing the release form.

Where the New Fields Appear

Information about the use of AI must be provided in two places:

1027. In each track card, under the Track information tab. This is where you indicate whether AI was used to create the music, lyrics, instrumental performance, vocals, or sound recording.
1028. In the cover artwork section, beneath the uploaded Standard Cover. This field separately identifies whether AI was used to create or substantially modify the cover image.

The track and cover artwork fields must be completed independently. For example, a track created entirely by humans may have AI-generated cover artwork, while an AI-generated track may use a photograph or illustration created entirely by a human.

AI in Track — Overall Track Status

You must select one overall status for each track.

No AI, human only

Select this option if the music, lyrics, instrumental performance, vocals, and post-production were completed by humans without AI that created, synthesised, replaced, or substantially transformed the material.

The use of a DAW, MIDI, synthesisers, samplers, or conventional audio plug-ins does not, by itself, mean that AI was used in the track.

Partial — human + AI

Select this option if both human work and AI were involved in creating the track.

For example:

• the music was written by a human, but an individual instrumental part was generated by AI;
• the lyrics were written by a human, but the vocals were synthesised;
• the recording combines live instruments with AI-generated instruments;
• human vocals were substantially transformed using voice conversion;
• AI was used for mastering, audio reconstruction, or another part of post-production;
• part of the composition or lyrics was created by AI.

Even if AI was used for only one element, the overall track status must be Partial.

Full AI track

Select this option if the track’s primary content was created entirely by AI, including the music, lyrics, performance, vocals, and sound recording.

For example, the user entered a prompt, an AI service generated a complete song, and only trimming, volume adjustment, or another minimal file-preparation step was performed afterwards.

Minor manual processing of a fully generated recording does not turn it into a human-created track.

no data

no data is a default technical value. It means that information about the use of AI has not yet been provided.

It does not mean “AI was not used.” Before submitting the release, replace no data with one of the three applicable values:

• No AI, human only;
• Partial — human + AI;
• Full AI track.

Leaving no data selected may result in the release being returned for correction, delayed during moderation, or subject to additional questions from Sundesire or music platforms.

AI Usage Details — Element-by-Element Information

Below the overall status is a table in which you must identify how each individual element of the track was created.

The information in the table must be consistent with the selected overall status:

• when No AI, human only is selected, every row must be marked Human;
• when Full AI track is selected, every row must be marked AI;
• when Partial is selected, each row must reflect how that particular element was actually created.

Composition (Authorship)

Author of music (“notes”)

This row concerns the music as a copyright work, including the melody, harmony, and other original musical material.

Human — the music was written by a human.

AI — the music, or a substantial creative part of it, was generated by AI.

If AI produced a finished melody, harmony, or musical structure, subsequently selecting one of the generated versions or manually editing it does not change the AI origin of the underlying material.

Author of Lyrics

Human — the lyrics were written by a human.

AI — all or a substantial part of the lyrics was generated by AI.

Spell-checking, grammar corrections, or individual editing suggestions do not normally make AI the author of the lyrics. However, if the system generated verses, choruses, or a substantial part of the wording, select AI.

Sound Recording

Performance (Music Instruments)

This row concerns the instrumental parts heard in the recording, not mixing or mastering.

Human — the parts were performed or programmed by a human. This includes live recording and manual programming of MIDI, drum machines, synthesisers, and samplers.

Human + AI — the track combines parts created by humans with parts generated or substantially transformed by AI.

AI — the instrumental performance was generated entirely by AI.

Vocals

Human — the vocals were performed by a human. Conventional comping, pitch correction, equalisation, compression, and effects do not, by themselves, turn human vocals into AI vocals.

Human + AI — the track combines human and synthetic vocals, or the human vocal performance was substantially transformed using AI.

For example:

• a human lead vocal with AI-generated backing vocals;
• AI completed individual words or phrases;
• the voice was converted into a different timbre or voice model;
• human and synthetic vocal parts were used together.

AI — the vocals were created or performed entirely using a synthetic AI voice.

A voice model based on a real person may only be used when all necessary rights and permissions have been obtained. AI labelling does not, by itself, authorise the use of another person’s voice.

Post-production

This row covers mixing, mastering, restoration, and the final processing of the sound recording.

Human — post-production was carried out by a human without AI tools that created or substantially reconstructed the material.

Human + AI — AI was involved in the processing, but the result was controlled or further edited by a human.

For example:

• AI mastering followed by manual adjustments;
• AI stem separation followed by further work by an engineer;
• AI restoration or reconstruction of individual sections;
• removal of noise or artefacts involving substantial signal reconstruction.

AI — post-production was completed entirely by an AI service without substantive manual editing.

How to Check That the Fields Are Consistent

Before saving the track card, verify that the overall status matches the detailed information.

No AI, human only

All rows must be completed as follows:

• Music — Human;
• Lyrics — Human;
• Performance — Human;
• Vocals — Human;
• Post-production — Human.

Partial — human + AI

At least one row must be marked AI or Human + AI.

Complete all remaining rows according to how the relevant elements were actually created.

Full AI track

Music, lyrics, performance, vocals, and post-production must all be marked AI.

If any element was genuinely created by a human, select Partial rather than Full AI track.

Using AI in Cover — Use of AI in Cover Artwork

This field is located beneath the standard cover preview and must be completed separately from the track information.

No

Select No if the cover artwork was created without generative or substantially transformative AI.

For example:

• the artwork uses a photograph taken by a photographer;
• the illustration was drawn by an artist;
• a designer assembled the composition manually;
• only conventional colour correction, cropping, sharpening, and file-preparation tools were used.

Partial

Select Partial if AI created, replaced, extended, or substantially modified part of the image.

For example:

• a real portrait of the artist was placed against an AI-generated background;
• AI added or removed objects;
• generative image extension was used;
• individual visual elements were generated by AI;
• the original photograph was substantially reconstructed by a generative system.

Basic technical improvement of image resolution or quality without creating new visual elements should be assessed according to what the specific tool actually did. If the system reconstructed, extended, or replaced noticeable parts of the image, select Partial.

Made by AI

Select Made by AI if the primary image was generated entirely by AI.

This option still applies when a person subsequently:

• added text;
• changed the colours;
• cropped the image;
• carried out conventional retouching;
• corrected individual details.

Minor manual editing does not change the origin of the primary image.

no data

no data means that information about AI use has not yet been provided.

Before submitting the release, replace it with:

• No;
• Partial;
• Made by AI.

While no data remains selected, the cover is considered unlabelled. Incomplete labelling may lead to delays or additional review of the release.

Other Visual Materials

If the release includes Motion Art, Canvas, a music video, lyric video, visualiser, or other visual materials created or substantially modified using AI, this information must also be provided in the relevant fields and forms, where available.

The Standard Cover selection applies only to the standard cover artwork and does not replace the labelling of other visual materials.

What Is Not Normally Considered AI Use

Conventional digital tools do not require AI labelling merely because they operate within software or a plug-in.

These generally include:

• equalisers;
• compressors;
• limiters;
• reverb and delay;
• manual pitch correction;
• conventional editing and comping;
• manual MIDI programming;
• traditional synthesisers, samplers, and effects;
• colour correction, cropping, and image resizing.

However, some modern programs include both conventional and AI-powered functions. You should therefore consider not only the name of the software but also the specific function that was used.

How to Determine Whether AI Must Be Declared

Check whether the tool performed at least one of the following actions:

10964. created new lyrics, a melody, a voice, an instrumental part, a sound, or an image;
10965. replaced a human performance with a synthetic one;
10966. completed missing elements;
10967. substantially modified a voice, audio recording, or image;
10968. made creative decisions in place of the author, performer, engineer, or designer.

If it did, the use of AI must be disclosed in the relevant field.

When in doubt, contact support before submitting the release and provide the name of the tool and the specific function that was used.

Examples

1. A Fully Human Studio Recording

The music and lyrics were written by humans, the instruments and vocals were recorded by performers, and the mixing and mastering were completed by an engineer.

• AI in track — No AI, human only;
• Music — Human;
• Lyrics — Human;
• Performance — Human;
• Vocals — Human;
• Post-production — Human.

If the cover was created by a photographer or artist without AI:

• Using AI in Cover — No.

2. A Human-Created Song with AI Mastering

The music, lyrics, instruments, and vocals were created by humans, but the final master was produced using an AI service.

• AI in track — Partial — human + AI;
• Music — Human;
• Lyrics — Human;
• Performance — Human;
• Vocals — Human;
• Post-production — AI if the mastering was fully automated, or Human + AI if an engineer subsequently adjusted it.

3. Human-Created Music with Synthetic Vocals

• AI in track — Partial — human + AI;
• Music — Human;
• Lyrics — according to how they were created;
• Performance — according to how it was created;
• Vocals — AI;
• Post-production — according to how it was carried out.

4. Human Vocals over an AI-Generated Instrumental

• AI in track — Partial — human + AI;
• Music — AI if the composition itself was also created by the system;
• Lyrics — according to how they were created;
• Performance — AI;
• Vocals — Human;
• Post-production — according to how it was carried out.

5. A Fully AI-Generated Track

AI created the music, lyrics, instrumental performance, and vocals.

• AI in track — Full AI track;
• all detailed fields — AI.

6. A Human-Created Track with AI-Generated Cover Artwork

• AI in track — No AI, human only;
• all detailed fields — Human;
• Using AI in Cover — Made by AI.

Who Is Responsible for the Accuracy of the Labelling?

The rights holder or other person uploading the release and providing the relevant information to Sundesire is responsible for ensuring that all information concerning the use of AI is complete and accurate.

Sundesire and music platforms cannot always determine which tools were used to create the music, lyrics, vocals, sound recording, or cover artwork. Therefore, the fact that a release has passed moderation, been delivered, or become available on music platforms does not mean that the declared labelling has been verified as accurate, and it does not release the uploading party from responsibility.

False, incomplete, or misleading labelling may result in:

• the release being returned for correction;
• delayed, suspended, or cancelled delivery;
• removal of a release that has already been published;
• requests for additional information and supporting materials;
• restrictions on access to individual features or the account;
• enforcement measures by music platforms;
• liability under applicable law.

For violations of the transparency obligations established by Article 50 of the EU AI Act, Article 99 of the Regulation provides for administrative fines of up to €15 million or 3% of the offender’s total worldwide annual turnover for the preceding financial year. For small and medium-sized enterprises, the lower of the applicable maximum amounts applies. The amount and applicability of any penalty are determined by the competent authority, taking into account the status of the offender and the circumstances of the individual case.

AI labelling does not prove that the necessary rights have been obtained, does not authorise the use of another person’s voice, image, work, or sound recording, and does not guarantee that a release will be accepted by music platforms.

Key Points

• AI use must be declared separately for each track and for the cover artwork.
• no data is an incomplete default value that must be replaced.
• The overall track status must be consistent with the detailed fields.
• Select Partial if AI was used in at least one element.
• Conventional DAW tools and standard non-AI processing do not require AI labelling.
• AI labelling does not replace evidence of the necessary rights.