This holiday season, YouTube's Christmas music compilations have been infiltrated by AI-generated versions of classic carols, catching many families off guard while seeking traditional holiday background music.

A notable example is the YouTube channel 'Christmas Melodies,' whose compilation 'Best of 1950s to 1970s Christmas Carols' has garnered over 6.4 million views. The playlist begins normally but shows clear signs of AI manipulation at the 36:55 mark, where "O Little Town of Bethlehem" lyrics are paired with the melody of "Silent Night."

The compilation includes several suspicious entries, such as:

• "Oh Holy Night" credited to "Nei Diamond" (a misspelling of Neil Diamond)
• "The First Noel" falsely attributed to Nat King Cole, featuring unnaturally-sounding choir vocals
• Multiple tracks with mismatched melodies and lyrics

The issue extends beyond YouTube to other streaming platforms. Spotify users have identified completely fabricated artists appearing on Christmas playlists, including:

• Dean Snowfield
• North Star Notesmiths
• Sleighbelle
• Frosty Nights
• The Humbugs
• Snowdrift Sleighs
• Daniel & The Holly Jollies

These AI-generated tracks often feature MIDI-like instrumentation with artificial vocals, and they're being mixed into legitimate holiday playlists, accumulating plays alongside authentic Christmas music.

The presence of AI-generated artwork in these compilations further suggests that virtually all content from these sources may be artificially created, raising concerns about authenticity in holiday music streaming.

Related Articles

Previous Articles