Apple Music Raises Prices, Spotify Adds Video Features, and AI-Generated Music Floods Deezer as Platforms Update Creator Tools

Apple Music announced a price increase for its Individual, Family and Student plans in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe on July 17, 2026. The Family plan now costs $19.99 per month, up from $16.99, while Individual and Student plans each rose by one dollar. Apple said the hike reflects higher licensing costs and is the first price change for the service since 2022.

Spotify expanded its music‑video offering on the same day. The platform introduced a Video Pitching Tool that lets artists submit videos for consideration, a global music‑video chart, and broader in‑app discovery. Eligible videos can now appear on Home, artist profiles, release pages and editorial playlists. The update follows the rollout of direct video uploads in Spotify for Artists.

Deezer reported that it received roughly 90,000 fully AI‑generated tracks each day in June 2026, more than half of all new uploads that month. The streaming service said it will remove AI tracks that have not streamed in the past six months and those used for streaming fraud. Despite the surge, AI music accounted for only 1–3 % of total streams, indicating that listeners still prefer human‑created content.

A hack of the AI music platform Suno revealed source code that references training data scraped from YouTube Music, Deezer, Genius, Pond5, Jamendo, Freesound, the International Music Score Library Project and podcast RSS feeds. The leak raises questions about whether copyrighted works were used without permission. Suno has faced lawsuits from major record labels over its use of copyrighted material.

TikTok is testing an AI deep‑fake detection tool with a small group of U.S. creators. The feature uses identity verification and facial‑matching technology to identify unauthorized AI‑generated impersonations of users. The trial is part of the platform’s broader effort to protect creator identity.

Instagram added a new feature that lets users replace the music track on existing feed posts and carousels without deleting or re‑uploading the content. The change preserves likes, comments and shares, giving creators a practical way to update older posts with trending tracks or correct audio mistakes.

YouTube announced that creators in the YouTube Partner Program can now upload custom thumbnails for Shorts videos. The update also includes AI‑powered thumbnail ideas and enhanced editing tools, giving creators more control over branding and visibility.

These developments illustrate a broader trend of streaming services and social platforms expanding creator tools while grappling with the rise of AI‑generated content. Apple’s price hike reflects ongoing licensing pressures, while Spotify’s video enhancements aim to deepen artist‑platform engagement. Deezer’s handling of AI uploads and Suno’s data‑scraping controversy highlight the legal and ethical challenges of AI music generation. Meanwhile, TikTok’s deep‑fake detection and Instagram’s music‑replacement feature demonstrate platforms’ efforts to protect creator rights and improve user experience.

At present, Apple Music’s new pricing structure is in effect, Spotify’s video tools are live, Deezer is actively moderating AI uploads, Suno is under legal scrutiny, TikTok is trialing deep‑fake detection, and Instagram and YouTube have rolled out new creator‑centric features. The industry will continue to monitor how these changes affect artists, listeners and the broader ecosystem.