In the world of cinema, it had already happened: screenwriters and actors had strongly protested in Hollywood against the use of AI in the seventh art and in defense of their professions.
Now, musicians are making their voices heardβand they are doing so through silence: over 1,000 artists, including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, and Damon Albarn, have come together to record a silent album in protest against proposed changes to UK copyright laws regarding the use of AI. “They harm creativity,” the musicians claim.
The album, titled “Is This What We Want?”, is a symbolic act against a proposal that would allow AI companies to train their models on copyrighted material without requiring a license. According to the artists, this change would pose a threat to the entire creative sector, paving the way for the replacement of artists with technology.
Billy Ocean, The Clash, Jamiroquai, and Imogen Heap have also joined the initiative, along with numerous composers, conductors, singers, and producers, including Oscar, Grammy, and Brit Award winners. All profits from the album will be donated to the charity Help Musicians to support this crucial battle for the future of music.
“The UK government must not legalize the theft of music to benefit AI companies,” reads their statement of intent. Influential artists such as Elton John, Simon Cowell, and Paul McCartney have also spoken out against the measure.
Ed Newton-Rex, the initiativeβs promoter, stated that the proposed law “would give away a musicianβs lifetime work for free to AI companies,” endangering an industry that in 2023 contributed Β£7.6 billion to the UK economy, with Β£4.6 billion coming from music exports.
The contested measure includes a copyright exemption for AI training, requiring creators to explicitly declare their dissent if they do not want their works to be exploited. However, critics argue that this clause places an unfair burden on artists and provides no compensation for the use of their work.
Evelien Van Leeuwen 
Edgar Visser