Musicians use silence to send a powerful message about the potential impact of proposed changes to copyright law on their livelihoods.
Silent Symphony: Musicians Stand Against A.I. Copyright Changes
Silent Symphony: Musicians Stand Against A.I. Copyright Changes
A group of over 1,000 artists, including renowned names, release a wordless album to protest new U.K. copyright proposals.
In a striking demonstration of solidarity, over 1,000 musicians have come together to release an album devoid of lyrics, creatively titled “Is This What We Want?” The initiative, which launched on Tuesday, is a vocal criticism of the British government’s proposal to ease the regulations governing how artificial intelligence developers can utilize copyright-protected works for training purposes.
This innovative "silent record," featuring contributions from celebrated artists such as Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, Hans Zimmer, and Kate Bush, does not entirely lack sound. It captures the ambiance of empty studios, which the artists argue symbolizes the detrimental impact that the government’s proposals could inflict on musicians' livelihoods. The album includes subtle noises like footsteps, rustling, and ambient clatter — a stark contrast to traditional musical offerings.
Kate Bush articulated the collective sentiment in a statement, emphasizing, “If these changes go ahead, the life’s work of all the country’s musicians will be handed over to A.I. companies for free.” Under the government’s new proposals, artists would need to actively opt out or "reserve their rights" to prevent their works from being used to train A.I. systems, placing an unfair burden on creators.
Ed Newton-Rex, chief executive of Fairly Trained and one of the album's organizers, elaborated on the implications of the proposed changes, stating, “Opt-out shifts the burden of controlling your works onto the rights holder.” The comment period for the public on this pivotal copyright proposal, part of a wider consultation on artificial intelligence, closed on the same day as the album's release.
As the music industry grapples with the challenges posed by rapidly evolving technology, this protest underscores the critical discussion around copyright rights and the future of creativity in an era dominated by artificial intelligence.
This innovative "silent record," featuring contributions from celebrated artists such as Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, Hans Zimmer, and Kate Bush, does not entirely lack sound. It captures the ambiance of empty studios, which the artists argue symbolizes the detrimental impact that the government’s proposals could inflict on musicians' livelihoods. The album includes subtle noises like footsteps, rustling, and ambient clatter — a stark contrast to traditional musical offerings.
Kate Bush articulated the collective sentiment in a statement, emphasizing, “If these changes go ahead, the life’s work of all the country’s musicians will be handed over to A.I. companies for free.” Under the government’s new proposals, artists would need to actively opt out or "reserve their rights" to prevent their works from being used to train A.I. systems, placing an unfair burden on creators.
Ed Newton-Rex, chief executive of Fairly Trained and one of the album's organizers, elaborated on the implications of the proposed changes, stating, “Opt-out shifts the burden of controlling your works onto the rights holder.” The comment period for the public on this pivotal copyright proposal, part of a wider consultation on artificial intelligence, closed on the same day as the album's release.
As the music industry grapples with the challenges posed by rapidly evolving technology, this protest underscores the critical discussion around copyright rights and the future of creativity in an era dominated by artificial intelligence.
