Nearly 40% of more than one million music recordings analysed by SubmitHub’s SH Labs AI Music Detector in July showed evidence of artificial intelligence involvement, according to new data from the music submission platform.
The analysis found that 23.2% of recordings were classified as fully AI-generated, while another 15.3% contained evidence of AI-generated audio that had subsequently been modified or processed by humans.
Together, the figures mean 38.5% of the recordings analyzed showed signs of AI involvement, highlighting how quickly AI-generated and AI-assisted music is becoming part of mainstream music production.
SubmitHub finds a growing AI disclosure gap
SubmitHub’s data also points to a potential problem for music platforms, distributors and rights organisations trying to establish how artists are using AI.
In 2026, 31% of artists whose music was identified as containing AI-generated audio said they had not used AI when submitting their music.
The comparison is possible because SubmitHub asks artists directly about AI use during its submission process, while SH Labs independently analyzes the recordings.
SubmitHub founder Jason Grishkoff said greater transparency should be central to how the industry approaches AI-generated music.
“I think the path forward for AI music is disclosure. People should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to engage with AI-generated music. Our job is to give them enough information to make that choice.”
The figures do not establish why artists and the detector sometimes produce different results, but they do highlight the difficulty of relying solely on self-declaration as AI becomes more integrated into music production.
SH Labs has analysed more than one million recordings
SH Labs, the AI detection platform developed by SubmitHub, passed one million analyses in July and is on course to process more than 1.5 million recordings in August, according to the company.
The technology was initially developed to help SubmitHub’s network of music curators filter submissions according to their individual preferences. It has since expanded into use by music companies and organisations including Bandcamp, GEMA’s MusicHub, Traxsource and SlopTracker, as well as numerous distributors and digital platforms.
The company also says one of the three major record labels is using the technology in its workflows.
AI music is not simply human or machine
One of the key distinctions in SubmitHub’s system is its attempt to identify music that falls between entirely human-made and entirely AI-generated recordings.
The 15.3% hybrid category covers recordings where AI-generated material was subsequently modified, reworked, processed or combined with human-created material.
That distinction is becoming increasingly relevant as labels, distributors, platforms and rights organisations develop policies for AI-generated music.
A track created entirely using an AI model can raise different questions around disclosure and rights from a predominantly human-produced recording that incorporates an AI-generated vocal, instrumental passage or other element.
SubmitHub says its system therefore provides a more detailed signal than simply labelling a recording “AI” or “human”, allowing organisations to apply their own policies.
SubmitHub claims more than 99% accuracy
SubmitHub says its AI detector achieved more than 99% accuracy in a confidential industry benchmark.
The company says the results helped lead one of the world’s largest music companies to begin integrating the technology into its own workflows.
The claimed accuracy figure is based on a confidential benchmark rather than independently published testing, so it cannot be directly compared with publicly documented performance results from other AI music detection systems.
SubmitHub has processed nearly 50 million submissions
SubmitHub launched in 2015 as a platform connecting independent artists with music bloggers and other industry curators.
The company says it has since processed nearly 50 million submissions from more than 1.5 million registered users.
Its services now include SubmitHub Links, SubmitHub Ads and the SH Labs AI Music Detector.
What the AI music data means for artists and platforms
The latest figures suggest the industry’s AI challenge is moving beyond the basic question of whether AI is being used.
As AI tools become more common in songwriting, production, vocals and audio processing, platforms and rights organisations increasingly need to establish where AI was used, how extensively it was used and whether that use was disclosed.
With more than one million recordings analyzed in a single month, SH Labs is positioning its detector as a tool for making those distinctions at scale.
