The mysterious singer with streams – but who (or what) is she? (www.bbc.com)

Sienna Rose has emerged as a viral sensation on Spotify, with millions of streams for her jazz-infused songs. However, investigations reveal she may not exist—many of her tracks are flagged by streaming service Deezer as AI-generated. Despite her implausibly high output of music (at least 45 songs in two months) and lack of a social media presence, Rose has captured the attention of notable users like Selena Gomez. Her music, while enjoyable, contains detectable quirks—such as a consistent hiss and generic patterns—often associated with AI compositions, leading some listeners to question the authenticity of her sound. This case underscores a significant challenge facing the music industry, as the rise of sophisticated AI tools allows for the creation of cloned artists that can compete with human musicians. Deezer reports that around 34% of songs uploaded are now generated by AI, a stark increase from previous years. The validity of AI-generated music continues to spark debates about artistic integrity, with some in the industry advocating for quality over quantity and expressing concern over the erosion of the human element in music. As AI music proliferates, the implications for copyright, audience trust, and industry standards remain critical issues for musicians and creators alike.