Apple Music Raises Prices, Spotify Expands Video Features, and AI Music Trends Surge Across Platforms

Apple Music announced a price increase for its Individual, Family, and Student plans in the United States, the United Kingdom, and across Europe. The Family subscription now costs $19.99 per month, up from $16.99, while the Individual and Student tiers have also been adjusted upward. Apple attributes the change to rising licensing costs and notes that it is the first price adjustment for the service since 2022.

Spotify has broadened its music‑video strategy with a new Video Pitching Tool that lets artists submit videos for consideration, a global music‑video chart, and expanded in‑app discovery options. The update follows the launch of direct video uploads for artists, which now appear on Home, artist profiles, release pages, and editorial playlists.

Deezer reports a significant influx of AI‑generated music on its platform. The company says it receives roughly 90,000 fully AI‑generated tracks each day, and that AI music accounts for more than half of new uploads on peak days in June. In response, Deezer will remove AI‑generated tracks that are used for streaming fraud and those that have not been streamed for at least six months. The platform also continues to expand its AI detection technology. Despite the high upload volume, Deezer notes that AI‑generated music represents only 1–3 % of total streams, indicating that listeners still prefer human‑created music.

TikTok is testing a new AI deepfake detection tool designed to help creators identify and report unauthorized AI‑generated versions of themselves. The feature, currently in trial with a small group of U.S. creators, uses identity verification and facial matching to detect potential impersonations across the platform.

A reported hack of the AI music platform Suno has revealed source code that suggests its models were trained on music and metadata scraped from YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius. The leak comes as Suno defends itself against copyright lawsuits from major record labels, raising questions about how AI music models are trained and whether copyrighted works were used without permission.

Instagram has added a feature that lets users replace the music on published feed posts and carousels without deleting and re‑uploading them. The change preserves all existing likes, comments, and shares, giving creators more flexibility to update older posts with trending tracks or correct audio mistakes.

YouTube has introduced custom thumbnails for Shorts. Creators in the YouTube Partner Program can now upload dedicated thumbnail images instead of using a frame from the video. The update also includes AI‑powered thumbnail ideas and enhanced editing tools.

These developments illustrate the growing intersection of streaming services, AI technology, and social media platforms. Apple’s price hike reflects the ongoing cost of licensing music, while Spotify’s video expansion signals a continued push into visual content. Deezer’s AI‑upload statistics and TikTok’s deepfake detection highlight the challenges of managing AI‑generated content and protecting creators’ identities. The Suno hack underscores the need for clearer rules around training data for AI models. Instagram’s music‑replacement feature and YouTube’s thumbnail tools show how platforms are adapting to creators’ needs for flexibility and branding.

Industry observers note that the rise in AI‑generated uploads could affect royalty calculations and content moderation policies. At the same time, the continued dominance of human‑created music in streaming numbers suggests that AI content remains a niche segment. The new tools from Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube may help platforms better serve creators while addressing emerging regulatory and copyright concerns.

In sum, the week’s announcements reveal a music ecosystem that is adjusting to higher licensing costs, expanding visual offerings, and grappling with the proliferation of AI‑generated material. Platforms are rolling out features to protect creators and streamline content management, while also navigating the legal and economic implications of an AI‑heavy landscape.