More than 1,000 musicians, including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush, have released a silent album to protest the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright law.
The artists argue that these changes would allow AI companies to use copyrighted material without a license, threatening their livelihoods and the future of the UK music industry.
The album, titled Is This What We Want?, features recordings of empty studios and silent performance spaces, symbolizing what the artists fear will be the absence of human-created music if AI companies can exploit their work without proper consent.
All proceeds from the album will be donated to the charity Help Musicians.
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Concerns Over AI and Copyright
Under the proposed law, AI developers could freely use creative works from the internet to train their models unless the rights holders explicitly opt out.
However, many artists believe this approach is flawed, as it would be nearly impossible for individual creators to track and prevent AI companies from using their work.
Speaking on the issue, Kate Bush questioned, “In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?” while singer Naomi Kimpenu warned that the plans could “shatter the prospects of so many emerging artists in the UK.”
The album’s tracklisting delivers a clear message, spelling out:
“The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.”
Music Industry Fights Back
The silent album is backed by high-profile names including Billy Ocean, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, The Clash, Mystery Jets, Jamiroquai, Tori Amos, Hans Zimmer, and Imogen Heap.
Composer Max Richter emphasized that the law would not only impact musicians but “impoverish creators across the board, from writers to visual artists.”
In response, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) defended the proposed changes, arguing that the current copyright framework is “holding back the creative industries, media, and AI sector from realizing their full potential.”
However, they assured that “no decisions have been taken” and that consultations with all stakeholders would continue.
Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, and Ed Sheeran Join the Fight
Music legends Sir Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Sting have also spoken out against the law, warning that it could enable “rip-off technology” that exploits artists’ work for the profit of big tech companies.
In a letter to The Times, McCartney, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Stephen Fry called on the government to protect creators from AI exploitation.
“Make It Fair” Campaign Launched
On Tuesday, the UK’s creative industries launched the “Make It Fair” campaign, urging the public to write to their MPs and object to the government’s plans.
The campaign also featured national newspaper ads, drawing attention to the potential risks of AI taking over copyrighted material without fair compensation.
Ed Newton-Rex, the organizer behind the silent album, called the proposals “disastrous for musicians”, saying, “We can be leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus.”
As the debate continues, UK artists are standing their ground, demanding that the government rethink its approach before AI reshapes the music industry at their expense.
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