Industry survey reveals 97% of music professionals demand AI transparency, while half refuse AI-generated music entirely

02 December 2025 - Press release

Survey of 144 music supervisors, filmmakers, and advertisers by leading music companies found: 97% want to know if music is AI-generated, 49% will only work with human-made tracks, and cultural authenticity becomes a critical selection factor.

Download the full report: https://cyanite.ai/cyanite-marmoset-mediatracks-survey/

As AI-generated music floods commercial catalogs, a landmark industry survey reveals a stark paradox: while 97% of music licensing professionals want to know whether a track is AI-generated or human-made, nearly half refuse to work with AI music at all.

The findings come from an original collaborative study by three companies at the center of music licensing and technology: Cyanite (serving over 200+ music companies with AI-powered catalog search), MediaTracks (a leading production music provider for broadcasters and agencies), and Marmoset (a certified B-Corp music agency representing exclusive independent artists). 144 music supervisors, filmmakers, advertisers, and editors participated to help us understand the state of the AI-disrupted music landscape.

Key findings:

• 97% want transparency about whether music is AI-generated or human-made

• 49% will only license human-made music, regardless of labeling

• 52% demand richer contextual metadata about tracks, particularly cultural background and creative intent

• 40% specifically value the artist's cultural background as a critical selection factor

• 37% explicitly mentioned "transparency" in written responses, making it the survey's most recurring theme

The study reveals that advertising professionals showed the most openness to AI music (with 65% willing to consider it under certain conditions), while film and music supervision professionals remained more skeptical. However, even among those open to AI, respondents emphasized the need for verified, ethically sourced platforms and clear intellectual property safeguards.

“Cultural context shapes how people hear music long before any tag or model gets involved. AI can describe what’s happening in the sound, but cultural metadata can give insight into the background and influences behind the track. As AI becomes part of everyday music workflows, combining precise audio analysis with this context will enable music professionals to make better informed decisions.” — Markus Schwarzer, CEO at Cyanite

The cultural context gap

Over half of respondents want deeper metadata about tracks, with cultural background emerging as the top priority. This aligns with recent cognitive science research showing that musical taste is culturally shaped, not just individual preference.

"Clients are increasingly asking us to prove music is human-made," one film editor noted in the survey. "It's not just a creative choice anymore. It's a must."

Multiple respondents expressed concern about AI training data sources and potential copyright infringement, one mentioned: "I'm concerned that if it were AI-generated, where did the AI take the themes or phrases from? Possible copyright infringement issues."

Industry implications

The findings suggest that AI-generated music may find a place in certain commercial applications, similar to how stock music has served specific use cases. But the demand for verified human creativity continues to grow, particularly where cultural authenticity and emotional depth matter.

"There's an intangible x-factor that can only be found within human creativity, not to mention an entire ecosystem of hard-working artists making meaningful contributions to our communities and culture," said Ryan Wines, CEO and Founder of Marmoset.

"Transparency guarantees clients and listeners will know exactly where their music comes from and that the artists behind it are supported, paid fairly, and can be celebrated for their work."