AI Bootleggers Profit from Stick Figure Clone, Exposing Streaming Fraud

A viral AI-manipulated track called "Run Run River" cloned Stick Figure's 2019 song "Angels Above Me," earning bootleggers thousands in royalties without credit. The fake version, sped up with a tweaked vocal and dance kick drum, hit No. 2 on Shazam and racked up tens of millions of streams. Stick Figure's team spent weeks issuing takedowns, but the incident highlights a flood of AI-generated tracks on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Deezer estimates 75,000 AI tracks uploaded daily, 85% fraudulent. In a separate case, Michael Smith pleaded guilty to wire fraud for streaming 100,000 AI songs to steal $8 million in royalties. Stick Figure responded by releasing an official dance remix with David Guetta and Alok. The saga underscores weak guardrails and the challenge of distinguishing fan remixes from scams.