Sony Group has unveiled a new system designed to detect which existing songs have been used to train artificial intelligence music models, potentially allowing songwriters and rights holders to claim payment when their work contributes to AI-generated tracks.

The technology examines patterns within AI-created music and compares them with known recordings. According to Sony, it can estimate how much influence specific artists or songs have had on a generated piece. In theory, it could determine that a track draws 30 per cent of its structure or style from one band and 10 per cent from another.

If an AI developer cooperates, Sony can connect directly to the developer’s base model to analyse training data more precisely. Where access is not granted, the system instead compares the generated output against a database of existing works to estimate likely sources.

The development comes as disputes grow over whether AI companies are using copyrighted material without permission to train systems. In music, this has included synthetic songs that mimic the voices and styles of well known performers. Rights holders argue that such uses may infringe copyright if the original material was included in training datasets without consent.

In Japan, music rights are divided between copyright holders such as songwriters, composers and publishers, and neighbouring rights holders including performers and record producers. Sony, which owns major labels and publishing assets, has a significant stake in how AI intersects with these protections.

If the origins of training material can be identified, royalties could potentially be distributed in proportion to each creator’s contribution. This would mirror existing systems in film, television and streaming, where music usage is tracked and payments are allocated accordingly. Sony argues that clearer attribution could also discourage unauthorised use of protected works.

The research was conducted by Sony AI, part of the company’s research and development arm. A related academic paper has been accepted at an international conference. The division has also been working on tools aimed at preventing AI systems from copying the artistic style of animation studios or generating near identical characters.

While the technology could be adopted by AI developers or used by content companies during licensing negotiations, it remains uncertain how widely it will be embraced. Critics note that some AI firms are focused primarily on improving model performance rather than addressing intellectual property concerns. Sony has not indicated when the system might move beyond the research phase.