Learn why your AI song submissions will get rejected by publishers and music licensing agencies, and what to do to get your songs accepted.
by CountryDemoStudio Staff | July, 18, 2025.
The walls have come crashing down just as people thought AI was the most incredible music tool to come along in, well, forever! AI makes music creation unimaginably easy. AI excels at songwriting, creating music tracks, and vocals. It's a breeze to create perfect songs that sound like a hit, and save a bundle on studio time by using AI to provide all the recorded instruments and a stellar mix. And it's getting better by the day. But curb your enthusiasm—full stop. 🛑 There's some bad news...
If you want to use the songs and music tracks you create with AI and monetize them within certain sectors of the music industry—the gatekeepers aren't letting AI through the door. Specifically, these are music publishers and music licensing companies.
You're also going to have issues trying to copyright an AI-written or co-written song. Why?
Generally, most publishers and music licensing companies do not accept AI-generated songs or recordings because AI introduces legal gray areas that create liability and risk.
Let's take a closer look at AI music rejection and break down the specific concerns that music publishers and music licensing companies face regarding AI-generated works.
Music publishers are in the business of acquiring rights to songs, promoting them, and collecting royalties for their songwriters and composers. That process only works when the ownership of the composition is legally valid and enforceable. AI-generated songs throw a wrench into that system.
Here's why publishers hesitate:
In the U.S., only works created by humans are eligible for copyright protection. If a song's lyrics or melody were generated wholly or partially by AI, it may not qualify for copyright. This leaves publishers with a song they can't protect—or profit from.
Even if a human revised an AI-written song, proving it meets the "human authorship" threshold can be difficult. Publishers don't want to deal with the risk of future legal disputes regarding ownership of the song or whether it's even copyrightable.
Publishers have long-standing relationships with songwriters and performing rights organizations. Associating their catalog with AI-created work could jeopardize their credibility or standing in the industry.
Sync licensing and music placement companies work with advertisers, filmmakers, and content creators who need fully cleared, licensable music. When AI enters the picture, the chain of legal ownership breaks down.
AI models are trained on vast amounts of data, often without transparency. This means the AI-generated melody, backing track, or vocal might unintentionally mimic copyrighted works. Licensing companies can't risk placing a song that could be challenged for plagiarism.
If an AI-generated voice is used—especially one that mimics a real artist's voice—it could open the door to rights of publicity violations. That's a legal minefield no licensing company wants to walk through.
These companies make promises to their clients that the music they provide is safe to use. If they license a track that's later deemed ineligible for copyright or tied up in litigation, it reflects poorly on them and could lead to legal damages.
If you've used AI to start your song, that's okay, but you'll need to humanize it to make it industry-acceptable. That's the only way to ensure you have a pitchable song.
To fix your AI song you must replace or substantially revise AI-generated lyrics and melodies. Humanize AI vocals by replacing them with real singers. Publishers and music licensing companies want to see original, human-created content. for more on this topic, see our article: Why You Need Real Singers and Musicians on Your Song, NOT AI.
At Country Demo Studio, that's precisely what we do. We take your AI concepts and transform them into copyright-eligible, industry-accepted recordings—performed by real humans, ready for submission to publishers and licensing libraries. Check out our AI-to-Human Song Service.
👉 Let's turn your AI sketch into a professional, human-made hit. Scroll below to get started on making your song demo a reality your song today!