A Sky News investigation reveals a growing fraud problem in the music industry driven by artificial intelligence, where bad actors generate vast quantities of AI-produced tracks and then use automated systems to repeatedly stream them to claim royalties. The ease of creating AI music has led to platforms like Deezer receiving tens of thousands of AI tracks daily, with data suggesting a large proportion of listening activity on these is manipulated rather than genuine. This artificial streaming diverts money from real artists because royalties are distributed from a shared pool based on total streams. Streaming services are deploying detection tools to identify and curb fraudulent activity, with some choosing to label or remove AI-generated content from algorithmic recommendations. Musicians interviewed for the report warn that without effective safeguards, this exploitation could significantly undermine the livelihood of creators and distort the economics of music streaming.