Spotify said the new tool could create an extra stream of income for artists and songwriters. Spotify said the new tool could create an extra stream of income for artists and songwriters. Spotify and Universal Music Group have agreed on a deal that will allow subscribers to generate song covers and remixes using artificial intelligence. The licensing agreement is the first time the Swedish streaming company will allow listeners to use AI to create content through its platform. It is expected to be in the form of a paid add-on available on Spotify's app.

Streaming may have killed off MP3s in the same way the iPod put paid to CDs and cassettes ended the dominance of vinyls. Each time the music industry has adapted and evolved. But what do record labels have up their sleeves to ward off the threat of artificial intelligence (AI)? Well, after the emergence of a string of'deepfake' songs where the likes of Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and Drake have had their voices convincingly mimicked, the world's largest record label is taking action. Universal Music is now in talks with Google to license artists' voices and melodies so they can be used for songs generated by AI.