DistroKid has confirmed to The Verge that recent removals of artist content are a direct response to claims made by Universal Music Group (UMG). The label filed a lawsuit in September alleging that DistroKid has created an "AI-slop pipeline."
While the distributor acts on these legal claims, artists are reporting that their non-AI works are being caught up in the purge. Musicians have taken to social media to complain that DistroKid removed their work without notice.
McGwire, a musician and self-described "Video Game boy," reported that six of his songs were removed from streaming platforms. Like other affected artists, McGwire stated that there was no communication from DistroKid before or after the removals.