DistroKid quietly removes songs in response to UMG lawsuit
Artists say their non-AI tracks were caught up in takedowns with no notice or explanation.
Policy#02
Policy
Image: The Verge
The short version
- DistroKid has confirmed to The Verge that recent takedowns respond to claims made by UMG.
- UMG sued DistroKid in September, claiming the company runs an "AI-slop pipeline."
- Musician McGwire says six of his songs were removed from streaming without any communication.
- DistroKid's VP of Artist Services said a very small number of recordings were removed and the company strongly disputes UMG's allegations.
Why it matters
The case tests how distributors handle copyright claims that reach legitimate work. For developers building on music platforms, it shows how takedowns can hit non-AI content and how hard it is to get a human response.
“A very small number of recordings distributed through DistroKid have been removed in response to claims made by UMG.”