AI-generated music as a tool of Russian propaganda
AI music has become a new way for Russia to create and spread its propaganda, with songs glorifying the war against Ukraine, the Russian military and the militarisation of society.
How easy is it to create this kind of music, get around the content moderation of AI services, and distribute it on streaming platforms? To find it out, Terrecon analysts tested five AI services, commissioned propaganda tracks from Russian AI creators, and analysed nearly 4,000 songs on YouTube, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, and Suno.
The report examines the main narratives spread through this music, its target audiences, and the risks of its distribution. It also offers recommendations for platforms, governments, and international institutions.
Generating AI songs
- 5 AI servicesSuno, Udio, Mureka, Google Flow Music and ElevenLabs
- 40 promptscontaining Russian propaganda narratives
- 25 attemptsresulted in propaganda songs
Commissioning tracks
- 25 requestssent to Russian AI music creators to produce propaganda songs
- 15 agreedto create AI-generated propaganda tracks
- $11-330price of an AI-generated song
- Refused
- No response
- Agreed
Analysing AI tracks on streaming platforms
- 4 platformsYouTube, YouTube Music, SoundCloud and Suno
- 3,725 tracksanalysed
- 981 songsshowed both signs of AI generation and propaganda
| Track and artist | Spotify | YouTube | Shazam |
|---|---|---|---|
| “On Murmuly” (“На мурмулях”) — Eta Radio | 12,493,568 | 17M | 659,154 |
| “Play, Accordion!” (“Сыпь, гармоника!”) — SDP | 4,091,785 | 4.5M | 535,465 |
| “Tell Me, Snow Maiden” (“Расскажи, Снегурочка”) — Sasha Komovich | 2,442,568 | 4.6M | 542,317 |
| “Inner Voice” (“Внутренний голос”) — Jeny Vesna | 2,003,502 | 11M | 585,35 |
| “Soviet Union” (“Советский Союз”) — Kersari | 976,145 | 1.7M | 125,542 |
| “The Crow” (“Ворона”) — Kenni, MC Dimka | 4,492,000 | 3.6M | 831,729 |
| “SMS” — UncleFlexxx | 4,622,000 | 10M | 413,362 |
| “Fair of Fates” (“Ярмарка судеб”) — Alena | 1,578,990 | 3.6M | 220,217 |
Testing moderation on streaming platforms
- 2 propaganda trackswere submitted to streaming platforms
- 2 platformswhere the tracks were uploaded directly: YouTube and SoundCloud
- 3 platformswhere the tracks were distributed via DistroKid: Spotify, YouTube Music and Deezer
Research: Terrecon analysts
Research concept: Denys Bieliaiev
Content manager and translator: Natalia Chekotun
Communications: Anastasia Bakulina
Web designer: Anna Chernenko