AI-Generated Music Tops Billboard and Spotify Charts Amid Growing Synthetic Music Trend
By Aisha Down | 13 November 2025
In a striking development in the music industry, three songs created entirely by artificial intelligence (AI) have soared to the top of major music charts, signaling a rapid spread of synthetic music across the globe. The tracks — including country songs and a politically charged Dutch anthem — have captured audiences on platforms such as Spotify and Billboard, bringing AI-generated music into the mainstream spotlight.
AI Tracks Dominate Spotify Viral Charts
The AI-produced songs Walk My Walk and Livin’ on Borrowed Time by the musical project Breaking Rust claimed the number one spots on Spotify’s U.S. “Viral 50” chart, which tracks the most shared and trending songs daily in the United States. Simultaneously, a Dutch-language song titled We Say No, No, No to an Asylum Center by JW “Broken Veteran” topped Spotify’s global viral chart. This song, known for its anti-migrant stance and protest against new asylum centers, also catapulted Breaking Rust into the top five positions on the same global list.
Lyrics such as “You can kick rocks if you don’t like how I talk” from Walk My Walk suggest a defiant response to critics of AI-created music, highlighting the emerging culture around this new genre.
Controversy and Removal from Streaming Services
Shortly after these songs gained prominence, We Say No, No, No to an Asylum Center and other tracks by Broken Veteran disappeared from streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Spotify clarified to Dutch media outlet NU.nl that they had not removed the music; instead, the rights holders did. Broken Veteran himself expressed uncertainty about the removal and said he was investigating, hopeful for the music’s return.
In correspondence with The Guardian, Broken Veteran, who chose to remain anonymous, framed AI as “just another tool for expression,” particularly helpful for those lacking traditional musical training but with important messages to convey. He emphasized that his songs reflected “frustration with governmental policies, not with migrants as individuals,” underscoring the nuanced motivations behind some AI-produced content.
Billboard Success and Expanding AI Footprint
Walk My Walk has held the leading position on Billboard’s “Country Digital Song Sales” chart for three consecutive weeks. This chart tracks paid downloads and digital purchases but is less comprehensive than Billboard’s flagship country music listings that factor in airplay and broader market impact.
The increasing presence of AI-made music is noticeable across streaming services. Research published by Deezer reveals that an astonishing 50,000 AI-generated tracks are uploaded daily to its platform alone, accounting for about 34% of all new music submissions. This large-scale output has fueled the viral potential of AI music, enabling certain songs to break into mainstream consciousness.
The Rise of AI Music: Quality and Volume
Initial AI music was often criticized for sounding mechanical or repetitive, but advancements have narrowed the gap between computer-generated and human-composed music. Deezer’s survey of 9,000 listeners across eight countries found that 97% could not consistently distinguish AI-created songs from those made by humans.
Ed Newton-Rex, a musician and founder of a nonprofit that promotes fair AI training data practices, noted that the flood of AI music is a core reason behind the emergence of AI hits. “You have a new, hyperscalable competitor built by exploitation,” he explained, referencing concerns over data use in AI development.
New Distribution Models Fuel AI Music’s Reach
The proliferation of AI tracks is aided not only by their volume but also by accessible distribution channels. Services like DistroKid, Amuse, Landr, and CDBaby allow independent creators to upload and monetize songs across platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok. DistroKid, known for a more permissive stance on AI content, appears to have helped distribute many of Breaking Rust’s popular songs.
Blogs like Jack Righteous advocate using these platforms to generate “streams of passive income” from AI content, illustrating how synthetic music has become part of a broader digital economy. Chris Dalla Riva, author of Uncharted Territory and analyst of music virality data, remarked, “Basically every piece of AI music you see isn’t distributed by a regular label. They’re made by a person in their bedroom and uploaded to these distribution sites.”
When contacted, Spotify referred to its existing policies on AI-generated music, as the company navigates this emerging and controversial space.
Conclusion
The rise of AI-generated music topping charts and saturating streaming services marks a transformative moment in the music industry, blending technology and creativity in unprecedented ways. While questions about artistic authenticity, exploitation of training data, and the future role of human musicians continue to spark debate, synthetic music’s growing footprint is undeniable.
As AI tools become more accessible, the boundaries of music creation, distribution, and consumption are rapidly evolving — a trend that artists, fans, and industry stakeholders alike will be watching closely.
