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Spotify Removes AI ‘King Lizard Wizard’ That Cloned King Gizzard’s Songs

The takedown underscores gaps in Spotify's AI-impersonation enforcement despite recent policy updates.

Overview

  • A Reddit user reported a fake “Rattlesnake” in Release Radar, revealing an account called “King Lizard Wizard” that had been live for weeks.
  • The uploads mirrored King Gizzard song titles and lyrics and used AI-styled artwork, with some tracks crediting frontman Stu Mackenzie as composer and lyricist.
  • Spotify said the content violated its impersonation policies and confirmed that no royalties were paid from any resulting streams.
  • The impersonator profile amassed tens of thousands of listeners as recommendation playlists surfaced the tracks before removal.
  • The incident comes after the band pulled its catalog in July over CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in AI military technology, with Mackenzie calling the situation “truly doomed.”