Blaze Foley, the iconic Texas singer-songwriter who left an indelible mark on the music scene, recently made headlines when a new song titled “Together” surfaced on Spotify. However, this track is not a hidden gem from his illustrious past; it appears to be an AI-generated creation. The rise of artificial intelligence in music is raising eyebrows and concerns among fans and artists alike.
In a similar vein, the legendary band Toto, which has recently resumed touring, found themselves in a perplexing situation when a new, unheard instrumental piece called “Name This Night” was added to their official Spotify profile. This track has since been removed, but it featured a generic image of a twilight sunset, lacking the band’s iconic logo, raising questions about authenticity and copyright.
Steve Lukather, the only remaining original member of Toto, expressed his astonishment at the ease with which such content can appear on Spotify. He stated to UCR, “I am surprised Spotify let this on.” Lukather confirmed that he has lodged a formal complaint regarding this issue. “There is not much we can do but catch them and have it taken down. It is shameless now,” he added, highlighting the challenges artists face in protecting their legacy.
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Although the track “Name This Night” has been removed from Spotify, it can still be found on platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, and Tidal. Fans and curious listeners can still experience the fake song below.
Lukather, who has been vocal about his skepticism regarding streaming services before negotiating favorable terms for himself, now faces more serious concerns. He warned, “It will be worse if, say, they take our entire catalog and then AI makes a new Toto record that sounds really close to us but is not,” indicating his worries about the future of music authenticity.
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Despite their ongoing tour, Lukather, along with long-time bandmates David Paich and Joseph Williams, has not released new material under the Toto name. They have collaborated on each other’s recent solo projects, and Steve Porcaro has also contributed to new music. However, due to a legal settlement with the estate of Jeff Porcaro, the band’s last official release remains the 2018 album Old Is New, leaving fans yearning for more.
Craig McDonald, the owner of the label representing Foley, expressed his disappointment over the recent surge of fake releases and emphasized that such occurrences should never have taken place. “It’s kind of surprising that Spotify doesn’t have a security fix for this type of action, and I think the responsibility is all on Spotify,” he stated to 404 Media, who initially reported the AI situation. “They could fix this problem. One of their talented software engineers could stop this fraudulent practice in its tracks, if they had the will to do so. And I think they should take that responsibility and do something quickly,” he urged, calling for immediate action.
Toto is currently on tour, sharing the stage with Christopher Cross and Men at Work, with performances scheduled to continue through August 30 in Ridgefield, Washington.
Listen to the Fake Toto Song ‘Name This Night’
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Many high school friends have pursued their musical dreams by forming bands, but few have achieved the remarkable, lasting success that Toto has enjoyed over the years.
Gallery Credit: Jeff Giles
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