‘Losercore ’: The Latest Generative AI Ads Spreading on TikTok

The “Losercore” Spotify playlist has been trending on TikTok recently. Multiple TikTok accounts have used AI to turn the faces of “underground” music artists, album covers, and video game characters into low-quality ‘90s retro-style animated ads for a Spotify playlist. These videos recently gained popularity because people realized how ridiculously cringe it is. The playlist uses the term “Losercore” in every video, whilst nobody can even explain what “Losercore” even is. The scripts are painfully AI-generated, relying on generic dialogue attempting to mimic modern slang. 

The truth behind it all is that this trend is a cash grab. People can earn money by getting thousands of streams and downloads on their playlists, motivating artists and record labels to pay for song placements. According to House of Tracks, “Curators can earn by offering sponsored placements or collaborating with artists and labels. Building a large, active playlist following can lead to paid opportunities from music brands and artists seeking exposure”. Therefore, the creators of the “Losercore” playlist are likely trying to make some extra money.

Not many people are fond of the “Losercore” playlist because it targets mainstream indie artists, such as the band TV Girl, labels them “Losercore, and uses AI to generate unoriginal promotional scripts. The “Losercore” TikToks typically use experiences that many people go through, such as rejection or overthinking, and use those scenarios to relate to as many people as possible for extra streams on their playlists. This is all done with low-quality AI animations that mimic retro video games for extra relatability through nostalgia.

Many people, such as myself, have found humor in the whole thing because the writing is so subpar. The ads try to come off as relatable, but they just come off as cheesy. Popular TikTok creators such as drakoarmytv and Tweak Titans have already made clips mocking the “Losercore.” Understandably, the trend seems to have slowed down, likely due to widespread trolling and the fact that social media trends don’t last long.

Image Courtesy of Nithinan Tatah, TH on Wikimedia Commons.