DistroKid has confirmed that it removed a small number of recordings in response to copyright claims from Universal Music Group, which sued the distributor in September over an alleged "AI-slop pipeline." The company says it strongly disputes the lawsuit's allegations and regrets the disruption to affected artists.
Musicians, however, say the takedowns have swept up non-AI work and come with no warning or explanation. One artist, McGwire, said six of his songs were removed, including a properly licensed Stevie Wonder cover and a track using a purchased beat; another removal cited a sample from a song released two years after his own. Others reported original songs and entire albums disappearing without notice.
The episode highlights broader complaints about DistroKid's customer service. Producer Jesse Cannon said the company gave up on customer service about two years ago, and former employees reportedly view it as a waste of profits. DistroKid's VP of Artist Services said the company is working to minimize disruption while protecting artists' ability to release music.