Suno is a music copyright nightmare capable of pumping out AI cover slop | The Verge

AIEntertainmentReportSuno is a music copyright nightmareIt makes it easy to flood streaming with AI Beyoncé ripoffs.by Terrence O'BrienApr 5, 2026, 4:00 PM UTCLinkShareGift Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesAIEntertainmentReportSuno is a music copyright nightmareIt makes it easy to flood streaming with AI Beyoncé ripoffs.by Terrence O'BrienApr 5, 2026, 4:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPart OfAll the latest in AI ‘music’see all updates Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget.AI music platform Suno’s policy is that it does not permit the use of copyrighted material. You can upload your own tracks to remix or set your original lyrics to AI-generated music. But, it’s supposed to recognize and stop you from using other people’s songs and lyrics. Now, no system is perfect, but it turns out that Suno’s copyright filters are incredibly easy to fool.With minimal effort and some free software, Suno will spit out AI-generated imitations of popular songs like Beyoncé‘s “Freedom,” Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” and Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” that are alarmingly close to the original. Most people will likely be able to tell the difference, but some could be mistaken for alternate takes or B-sides at a casual listen. What’s more, it’s possible someone could monetize these uncanny valley covers by exporting them and uploading them to streaming services. Suno declined to comment for this story.Making th...