More than 1,000 musicians in the U.K., including Kate Bush, Imogen Heap, and Annie Lennox, released a silent album titled “Is This What We Want?” in protest against proposed changes to copyright laws that could benefit artificial intelligence companies. The artists argue that allowing AI companies to use their copyrighted work without a license would harm their livelihoods. The album’s track list spells out a message against legalizing music theft for AI companies.
There are concerns over the impact of AI on artists’ works, and laws regulating AI are currently sparse. The lawmakers in the U.K. have been consulting on changing copyright laws to address these issues and the Labour Party has announced plans to consult on AI and copyright laws.
Efforts have been made to combat the proposed legislative changes, including from the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, which believes companies should seek permission first before training AI on artists’ works. A group of artists, including Kate Bush and Dua Lipa, have called for protecting the U.K.’s creative copyright against AI in a letter to the Times.
Kate Bush expressed her support for the protest and highlighted the importance of protecting the music industry. The release of the silent album coincided with the closing day of the government’s public consultation on copyright laws. The British government has stated that they are consulting on a new approach that balances the interests of AI developers and right holders.
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