Generation Hour EP12: Spotify x Merlin License AI Covers — Gray Market Gets a Rail

🎧 Generation Hour EP12: Spotify and Merlin reportedly finalize an authorization framework for AI-generated cover songs and AI remixes. Indie catalogs get a clearance and revenue-share path instead of takedown loops.In this episode:✅ Spotify + Merlin AI cover/remix licensing framework✅ Covers vocal-swap & algorithmic remixes using copyrighted masters✅ Pre-monetization rights check; writers + labels share stream/download revenue✅ Merlin = thousands of indie labels, bulk of AI-scraped catalogs✅ Doesn't auto-clear cloned voice rights — EU AI Act opt-out still separate🔥 Why it matters:AI covers stop being pure infringement theater. Platforms build the toll booth: detect, license, pay. Mirrors Suno's vinyl push (outward) and Spotify's deal (inward) — provenance becomes infrastructure.🔍 Keywords:Spotify Merlin AI cover deal, AI remix licensing 2026, indie label AI rights, Merlin authorization framework, AI cover revenue share, vocal swap clearance👇 Follow Generation Hour for your weekly dose of music industry insights.New episodes drop every week.AI disclosure: This episode uses AI-generated voices for narration; editorial selection and fact-check by human creator.