Make Music With AI 2026: How to Create a Hit Song That Tops Spotify

Do you want to make music with AI? In January 2026, the AI song "I know, you're not mine" by Jacub topped Spotify's Swedish top chart – and was created entirely without traditional instruments. We show you how to easily create your own AI music, upload it to Spotify, and what you need to know about rules and copyright.

Jacub AI Music: First AI Hit Song That Topped Spotify Sweden

At the beginning of January 2026, something historic happened – an AI-generated song reached first place on Spotify's Swedish top chart.

The song "I know, you're not mine" by the artist "Jacub" reached over 6.5 million streams and became Sweden's most played song. But there was a problem: the artist Jacub does not exist. The song was created with AI tools by the Danish music publisher Stellar Music.

What happened to the Jacub song?

Despite its success on Spotify, the song was blocked from Sweden's official chart (IFPI Sweden) because it was deemed "primarily AI-generated." Meanwhile, it continued to be streamed frequently – showing that listeners don't always care about the music's origin.

The creators behind Jacub claim they used AI as a tool in a human-driven process, not as a "push of a button" solution. But the debate continues: Where is the line between AI as a tool and AI as a creator?

This is the starting point for a new era in music – and you can join today.

How Do I Make an AI Song? Step-By-Step Guide

Creating music with AI is easier than you think. Here is the complete guide:

Step 1: Choose the Right AI Music Tool

There are several powerful tools for creating AI music in 2026. Here are the best:

Suno AI – Most popular for complete songs with vocals

• Free: 10 songs per day

• Pro: 249 SEK/month for 500 songs

• Can create entire songs from a text prompt

• Support for over 20 languages including Swedish

• Best for: Pop, rock, country, electronic music

Udio AI – Fiercest competitor with realistic voices

• Free: 600 songs per month (in beta version)

• Developed by former Google DeepMind researchers

• Fantastic sound quality

• Best for: Folk, indie, singer-songwriter

Other options:

• AIVA – Best for classical and film music

• Soundraw – Perfect for background music for videos

• MusicFX (Google) – Simple instrumental music

• Mubert – Ambient and loop music

Step 2: Create Your First AI Song

Let's use Suno as an example (the process is similar for Udio):

1. Create an account

• Go to suno.com

• Sign up with Google/email

• Verify your email

2. Write your prompt A good prompt includes:

• Genre: "Swedish folk-pop"

• Tempo: "Medium tempo, 90 BPM"

• Mood: "Melancholic, nostalgic"

• Instrument: "Acoustic guitar, piano, soft vocals"

• Subject: "A song about missing someone"

Example of a complete prompt:

"En svensk folk-pop låt med akustisk gitarr och piano. 
Melankolisk och nostalgisk känsla. Medel tempo. 
Manlig röst. Handlar om att sakna någon speciell

"En svensk folk-pop låt med akustisk gitarr och piano. 
Melankolisk och nostalgisk känsla. Medel tempo. 
Manlig röst. Handlar om att sakna någon speciell

"En svensk folk-pop låt med akustisk gitarr och piano. 
Melankolisk och nostalgisk känsla. Medel tempo. 
Manlig röst. Handlar om att sakna någon speciell

3. Generate music

• Paste your prompt

• Click "Create"

• Wait 10-30 seconds

• Get 2 different versions to choose from

4. Refine the result

• Don't like the result? Try again with a new prompt

• Want to extend the song? Use the "Extend" function

• Want to remix? Use the "Remix" button

• Download in MP3 or WAV format

Step 3: Create Your Own Lyrics (Optional)

Want more control? Write your own lyrics:

In Suno:

1. Choose "Custom Mode"

2. Write your song lyrics

3. Describe style and genre

4. Generate

Tips for better lyrics:

• Use verse-chorus-verse structure

• Keep verses to 4-8 lines

• Make the chorus catchy and repetitive

• Include a rhyme scheme for better results

Step 4: Create Album Cover

Use AI image tools for a professional cover:

• Midjourney – Best quality

• DALL-E 3 – Easy via ChatGPT

• Adobe Firefly – Free option

• Canva AI – Easiest for beginners

Requirements for Spotify:

• At least 3000 x 3000 pixels

• Square format (1:1)

• JPG or PNG

• Max 4 MB file size

Spotify AI Song: How to Upload Your Music

You cannot upload music directly to Spotify. You need a distributor.

Best Distributors 2026

DistroKid (Most popular)

• Cost: ~200 SEK/year

• Unlimited songs

• Keep 100% of royalties

• Fast upload (1-3 days to Spotify)

• Link: distrokid.com

TuneCore

• Cost: 99 SEK per song/year or 399 SEK per album/year

• Keep 100% of royalties

• Great reporting

CD Baby

• Cost: 100 SEK per song (one-time fee)

• No annual subscription

• Great for beginners

Amuse (Free option)

• Completely free basic plan

• Slower upload

• Limited support

How to Upload (DistroKid Example)

1. Create an account on DistroKid

2. Select "Upload" and fill in:

   • Artist name (e.g., your AI artist name)

   • Song title

   • Genre

   • Release date

3. Upload files:

   • Your AI-generated song (WAV or MP3)

   • Album cover (at least 3000x3000px)

4. Fill in metadata:

   • Songwriter (your name)

   • Copyright information

   • ISRC code (automatically generated)

5. Choose platforms:

   • Spotify

   • Apple Music

   • YouTube Music

   • Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music

6. Pay and submit

7. Wait 1-7 days until the song is live

AI Music Rules: What You Must Know 2026

Copyright & Commercial Use

Suno:

• Free plan: NOT for commercial use

• Pro/Premier: Full commercial rights, can be sold/streamed

Udio:

• Free: Private use only

• Paid plan: Commercial use OK

Important to know:

1. You own the music – if you have the right subscription

2. No copyright on AI music in Sweden – technically, AI-created music cannot get copyright according to Stim

3. But you can still make money – through streaming and sales

Spotify's AI Rules 2026

Spotify has introduced new rules following the AI explosion:

Allowed: ✅ AI-assisted music (human + AI) ✅ AI-generated music with transparency ✅ AI mastering and mixing ✅ AI-generated instrumental tracks

PROHIBITED: ❌ Mass uploads of AI spam ❌ AI-generated deepfakes of artists ❌ Music that imitates existing artists without permission ❌ "Fake streams" from bots

Spotify has removed 75 million AI songs classified as spam or illegal imitations.

IFPI Sweden's Rules

Sweden's official chart does NOT accept music that is "primarily AI-generated."

This means:

• The Jacub song was blocked from the official chart

• But it could still be streamed on Spotify

• Other countries' charts have their own rules (Billboard allows AI music)

AI Hit Song: Can You Really Make It Big?

Yes, but it's difficult. Here are examples of AI songs that went viral:

Success Stories 2025-2026

Jacub – "I know, you're not mine"

• 6.5+ million streams on Spotify

• #1 on Spotify Sweden

• Blocked from the official chart

• Created by Danish Stellar Music

Breaking Rust – "Walk My Walk"

• Topped Billboard's Country chart

• AI-generated country song

• No real artist behind

The Velvet Sundown

• Over 1 million streams summer 2025

• 70s rock completely created with AI

• Creators confirmed AI usage

imoliver (Suno artist)

• First Suno artist with a record contract

• Signed by Hallwood Media (USA)

• Continues to use Suno for production

The Truth About AI Music & Success

Advantages:

• Extremely cheap to produce

• No studio equipment needed

• Can create hundreds of songs quickly

• Perfect for testing ideas

Disadvantages:

• Hard to stand out among millions of AI songs

• No live possibility (you can't perform the song live)

• Ethical questions from the industry

• Can be blocked from official charts

• Difficult to build a "real" fanbase

Realistic expectations:

• Most AI songs get 0-100 streams

• A few go viral

• Long-term career as an AI artist is still untested

Tips for Creating Better AI Music

1. Be Specific With Prompts

Poor prompt: "A pop song"

Good prompt: "An upbeat pop song in the style of 80s synth, female singing about freedom and self-confidence, tempo 128 BPM, with catchy chorus and vocodered breakdown"

2. Iterate & Experiment

• Create 10-20 versions of the same song

• Test different genres

• Mix styles (e.g., "country-EDM")

• Use the "Remix" function for variations

3. Humanize the Music

After AI creates the song:

• Edit in DAW (Garageband, Logic Pro, Ableton)

• Add your own instruments

• Remix for better sound

• Create your own transitions

4. Create an "Artist Persona"

• Give your AI artist a name

• Create a consistent visual profile

• Write a backstory

• Build a presence on social media

5. Follow the Trends

Popular genres for AI music 2026:

• Lo-fi hip hop

• Ambient/chill

• Singer-songwriter folk

• 80s synth-pop

• Dreampop

• Country/Americana

AI Music Tools: Comparison 2026

Common Questions About AI Music

Is it legal to upload AI music on Spotify?

Yes, it is legal as long as you:

1. Have a commercial license from the AI tool (Pro/paid plan)

2. Do not imitate existing artists

3. Do not mass upload spam

4. Follow Spotify's usage terms

Do I get copyright on my AI music?

No, not according to Swedish law. Stim (Sweden's copyright organization) does not grant copyright to music that is "primarily" created by AI. BUT you can still:

• Make money from streaming

• Sell the music

• Use it in commercial projects

It's a gray area that will be clarified with new laws 2026-2027.

How much can I make from AI music?

Spotify pays about 0.003-0.005 SEK per stream.

To earn 10,000 SEK/month, you need:

• About 2-3 million streams/month

• This equals about 70,000-100,000 streams per day

Realistically: Most AI artists earn 0-500 SEK/month. A few earn 5,000-50,000 SEK/month.

Will AI replace real musicians?

No, likely not completely. AI is a tool that:

• Complements human creativity

• Lowers the threshold for music creation

• Enables quick production

But human artists have:

• Live performances

• Authenticity and emotions

• Unique voices and personality

• Storytelling and fans

AI music will be its own category, just as electronic music became in the 80s.

Can I use famous artists' names in AI prompts?

NO! This is prohibited and unethical: ❌ "Create a song that sounds like Taylor Swift" ❌ "Generate voice like Ed Sheeran" ❌ Use samples from existing songs

This can lead to:

• Spotify blocking

• Legal issues

• Copyright claims

Instead: Describe the style without naming names ✅ "Female pop vocals, country influences, storytelling lyrics" ✅ "Singer-songwriter, acoustic guitar, emotional singing"

How long does it take to create an AI song?

10 seconds to 2 minutes for the actual generation.

Total time with preparation:

• Beginner: 30-60 minutes (including prompt, testing, downloading)

• Experienced: 5-15 minutes per song

• With editing and fine-tuning: 1-4 hours

Which AI generator is best for Swedish songs?

Suno currently works best for Swedish lyrics:

• Supports over 20 languages including Swedish

• Good at Swedish rhymes and pronunciation

• Can create Swedish folk music, pop, rock

Tips for Swedish songs:

1. Write lyrics in Swedish in Custom Mode

2. Specify "Swedish pop" or "Swedish folk song" in the prompt

3. Test different dialects by describing the voice

The Future of AI Music 2026 & Beyond

AI music is here to stay. During 2026, expected:

New licensing agreements:

• Suno and Udio negotiating with major record labels

• More transparency about AI training

• Better compensation for original artists

Better tools:

• AI that can create 10-minute songs

• Real-time AI mixing and mastering

• AI songwriters collaborating with humans

Clearer rules:

• The EU's AI regulation comes into force

• Labeling AI music becomes standard

• New copyright laws

Increased competition:

• Deezer reports 28% of all new music is AI-generated (January 2026)

• 50,000+ AI songs uploaded daily

• Spotify has removed 75 million AI track songs

Conclusion: Should You Create AI Music?

Yes, if you:

• Want to experiment with music creation

• Need cheap music for YouTube/podcasts

• Want to test song ideas quickly

• Like technology and innovation

• See it as a creative tool

No, if you:

• Want to build a long-term artist career

• Value authenticity above all

• Plan live performances

• Want full copyright control

Best approach: Use AI as a tool in your creative process, not as a replacement for human creativity. Combine AI-generated music with your own ideas, lyrics, and editing for the best results.

Get Started Today: Your Action Plan

Day 1:

1. Create an account on Suno (free)

2. Generate your first 5 songs

3. Experiment with different genres

Day 2-3:

1. Write your own lyrics

2. Refine your prompts

3. Create album covers with AI

Day 4-7:

1. Select your best song

2. Sign up on DistroKid

3. Upload to Spotify

Month 1:

1. Release 3-5 songs

2. Share on social media

3. Analyze what works

Month 2-3:

1. Optimize based on data

2. Build your artist persona

3. Consider upgrading to a Pro plan

Written by: Aival.se