An independent UK band has accused artificial intelligence of stealing their music after a track strikingly similar to their unreleased cover of a AI stole Billie Eilish cover song appeared on Spotify. The incident has reignited a heated debate about AI-generated music, copyright ownership, and whether streaming platforms are equipped to protect original artists.
Viral TikTok Clip Sparks Unexpected Controversy
Milton Keynes-based indie band Torus had been working on a grunge-style cover of Billie Eilish’s hit song Ocean Eyes. The idea came after a short teaser clip of their performance was shared on TikTok and unexpectedly began gaining traction.
Encouraged by the positive response, the band decided to fully record and professionally produce the track. However, before they could officially release their version, they made a disturbing discovery: a near-identical cover had already been uploaded to Spotify.
Mystery Spotify Upload Raises Red Flags:AI stole Billie Eilish cover
The suspicious track appeared under the artist name Independent Lemon, an account that predominantly uploads cover versions of popular songs. What made the situation more alarming was the absence of any social media presence, record label affiliation, or live performance history linked to the account.
According to Torus, the Spotify version appeared to begin with audio that sounded identical to their original TikTok clip before continuing for several minutes longer — despite the band never releasing a full version publicly.
This led the group to suspect that generative AI had been used to extend and recreate their original snippet.
“It Sounded Like Our Track”
Singer and guitarist Alfie Glass initially thought the song had been recorded by another musician who had simply been inspired by their version.
“At first I thought a real person had done a cover of our cover,” he said. “It was actually done pretty well.”
But the more the band listened, the clearer it became that the track was not an independent interpretation.
Drummer Jack Orr explained that the song structure, drum patterns, and overall feel were uncannily similar to Torus’s own performance.
“They literally copied it,” Orr said. “The drum pattern is exactly the same. It sounded like our clip had been looped, and then something else was added on top.”
Suspicions of AI Music Generation
The band believes someone may have used generative AI software trained on their TikTok clip to predict and recreate how the rest of the song would sound.
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Modern AI music tools allow users to upload short audio snippets and generate extended compositions in a similar style. While these tools are marketed as creative aids, critics argue they can easily be misused to appropriate original work.
In this case, Torus suspects their clip was used as training material without permission, effectively turning their creativity into raw data.
Spotify Removes the Track
After reporting the track to Spotify, the streaming platform confirmed that it had reviewed the complaint and removed the song.
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In a statement, Spotify said: “Our team looked into this and has removed the reported track.”
The platform added that artists can report suspected copyright infringement through its official channels.
While the removal brought some relief, Torus said the experience had left them frustrated and concerned about how easily their work could be replicated.
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A Growing Problem in the Music Industry
The Independent Lemon account reportedly has nearly 700,000 monthly listeners and has uploaded around 100 singles in the past year alone.
Many of these tracks are covers of famous songs, often reimagined in different genres or altered in tempo. Some versions have accumulated millions of streams.
This volume of output has led to further speculation that AI tools may be playing a role in producing the music at scale.
Expert Opinion: Can You Prove AI Was Used?
Professor Simon Holland, a music and human-computer interaction expert at the Open University, explained that it is often difficult to conclusively prove whether a song was generated using AI.
After listening to tracks uploaded by Independent Lemon, Prof Holland said some characteristics — such as unclear vocals and a lack of expressive nuance — were common in AI-generated music.
However, he cautioned that these traits alone are not definitive proof.
“It’s not possible to say with certainty whether AI was used,” he said. “But there are hallmarks that raise questions.”
“AI Loses the Soul of Music”
For Torus, the issue goes beyond legal technicalities.
“AI in music just isn’t great,” said Orr. “It kind of loses the soul of music.”
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The band stressed that they are not against covers or creative reinterpretations, but they believe proper credit and originality are essential.
“Bring inspiration from the original and do your own thing,” Orr said. “But this wasn’t inspiration. It was copying.”
Recording Takes Time, AI Takes Seconds
Torus spent nearly a month recording their version of Ocean Eyes, carefully shaping it to match the raw energy that had resonated with listeners on TikTok.
By contrast, they believe the AI-generated version may have been produced in a matter of minutes.
“That’s the frustrating part,” Glass admitted. “Someone else seemingly made their own version in seconds.”
The Broader Copyright Debate
The case highlights a growing grey area in copyright law: who owns AI-generated music derived from human-created content?
Current copyright frameworks were not designed for a world where machines can analyze, mimic, and reproduce creative works at scale.
While AI companies argue that their tools merely generate “new” content, artists increasingly feel their work is being exploited without consent.
Impact on Independent Musicians
Independent artists are particularly vulnerable.
Unlike major labels, smaller bands often lack the legal resources to challenge copyright violations or track unauthorised use of their music.
For Torus, the fear is not just about one song — it’s about what this could mean for their future releases.
“You put something online to promote yourself,” said Orr. “You don’t expect it to be taken and repackaged by a machine.”
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Will AI Replace Musicians?
Despite the controversy, Prof Holland does not believe AI will eliminate human musicians.
He compared it to climbing Mount Everest.
“Would you want a helicopter to drop you at the top?” he asked. “Or would you want to learn how to climb?”
For many musicians, the journey — writing, practicing, experimenting — is the point.
“That’s not going to go away,” he said.
Music Industry at a Crossroads
The Torus case comes as governments, record labels, and tech companies grapple with how to regulate AI in creative industries.
Some artists have called for stricter laws requiring AI developers to disclose training data and obtain permission from creators.
Others argue for new royalty systems that compensate musicians whose work is used to train AI models.
What Happens Next?
For now, Torus is focusing on moving forward with their music.
But they hope speaking out will encourage greater transparency and stronger protections for artists.
“It’s not a good situation where people appear to be ripping off music by original musicians,” Prof Holland said. “This is obviously not good.”
A Warning Sign for the Digital Age
The incident serves as a warning for musicians navigating an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape.
As tools become more powerful, the line between inspiration and imitation continues to blur.
For Torus, what started as an exciting moment of viral success turned into a sobering lesson about the risks of sharing creative work online.
And for the music industry, it may be yet another sign that the rules of creativity are being rewritten — faster than the law can keep up.
