Lorde Calls Out Spotify’s “About the Song” AI for Misinformation

On Thursday, Lorde publicly criticized Spotify’s beta “About the Song” feature after it supplied inaccurate context for a track from her recent *Ultrasound* tour. The AI-driven tool, launched to limited users in February, aggregates information from third-party sites to generate song descriptions. In Lorde’s case, the AI cited a description from *themusic.com.au* that falsely claimed she performed a “shower scene” while a dancer poured water over her stomach, a scenario that never occurred in the referenced song.

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“About the Song” scrapes external sources and presents the compiled text with citations. Spotify’s spokesperson confirmed that the erroneous passage was removed after the complaint. The incident underscores broader concerns about AI data-scrapers, which can propagate errors when source material is unreliable.

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A company representative stated that the feature “presents cited information from third-party sources” and that the problematic text “has been removed.” The spokesperson added, “We’re continuing to improve it based on feedback from artists and fans.”

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Lorde’s Instagram Story demanded an opt-out option for artists, arguing that AI-generated meanings “limit free interpretation.” She noted, “Not only is this inaccurate (not the song i did that in) but reducing a song to an ai generated meaning right at the source feels like it limits free interpretation imo.” SZA, another high-profile musician, echoed similar frustrations, saying she feels “at war because of AI” and that she is “up against anti-intellectualism and doing things easy. The type of blend of information my human experience provides, AI can’t even be prompted to fuck with.”

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• “I’m going to go out on a limb and say we don’t want this,” — Lorde, Instagram Story

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• “Not only is this inaccurate (not the song i did that in) but reducing a song to an ai generated meaning right at the source feels like it limits free interpretation imo,” — Lorde, Instagram Story

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• “At least make it possible for artists to opt out please.” — Lorde, Instagram Story

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• “We’re continuing to improve it based on feedback from artists and fans.” — Spotify spokesperson

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• “I’m not up against the pop girls. I’m not up against the R&B girls,” — SZA, interview with I-D

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• “I’m up against anti-intellectualism and doing things easy. The type of blend of information my human experience provides, AI can’t even be prompted to fuck with.” — SZA, interview with I-D

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