In a bold move, more than a thousand musicians have banded together to release a unique album titled “Is This What We Want?” in protest against the British government’s proposed law changes regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music. This effort includes popular artists such as Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, and Kate Bush. Rather than traditional songs, the album consists of recordings of silent studio moments—footsteps, rustling, and other ambient noises—to illustrate the potential fallout from the copyright revisions, which would allow AI companies to exploit artists' work without compensation unless musicians actively opt-out.
Kate Bush emphasized the album's message, stating, “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.” The proposed law places the burden on artists to safeguard their work, allowing them to reserve rights instead of having automatic protections. As the deadline for public feedback on this policy looms, the music world watches closely as artists fight for their creative rights amidst growing advancements in AI technology.
Kate Bush emphasized the album's message, stating, “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.” The proposed law places the burden on artists to safeguard their work, allowing them to reserve rights instead of having automatic protections. As the deadline for public feedback on this policy looms, the music world watches closely as artists fight for their creative rights amidst growing advancements in AI technology.
