The U.K. government is eager to advance its ambitious plans for integrating and developing AI nationwide, yet not everyone is in agreement. On Monday, a collective of 1,000 musicians unveiled a “silent album” to voice their dissent against proposed alterations to copyright legislation. These modifications, they argue, would facilitate the use of copyrighted material for AI training without the requirement for licensing or compensation.
The album, titled “Is This What We Want?”, includes contributions from renowned artists like Kate Bush, contemporary classical figures Max Richter and Thomas Hewitt Jones, along with Imogen Heap, and many others. It boasts co-writing credits from hundreds of additional artists, including notable names such as Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, Billy Ocean, The Clash, Mystery Jets, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Riz Ahmed, Tori Amos, and Hans Zimmer.
However, this initiative is not a sequel to Band Aid, nor does it represent a typical album of music.
Instead, the musicians have created soundscapes from empty studios and performance venues, serving as a poignant symbol of the potential repercussions they foresee from the impending copyright law revisions.
Hewitt Jones shared, “You can hear my cats moving around,” describing his unique contribution to the album. “My two cats keep me company in the studio and are a continuous distraction while I’m working.”
To drive their message home further, the album’s 12 tracks convey a clear statement: “The British government must not permit music theft to benefit AI corporations.”
This album marks the latest in a series of efforts within the U.K. (with similar demonstrations in progress in other regions like the U.S.) aimed at raising awareness regarding copyright issues related to AI training.
Ed Newton-Rex, the organizer of this project, has been at the forefront of a broader campaign advocating against AI training that doesn’t involve proper licensing.
His stance has gained traction among artists concerned about the rising influence of AI. A petition he initiated has garnered over 47,000 signatures from writers, visual artists, actors, and various creatives, nearly 10,000 of which were collected in just the past five weeks since the U.K. government unveiled its AI strategy.
Newton-Rex has been actively leading a nonprofit focused on AI for the past year, certifying companies that refrain from using and training on intellectual property without appropriate consent.
Newton-Rex’s advocacy stems from his dual background. Trained as a composer and later founding Jukedeck, an AI-driven music composition platform, he enabled users to create original music while avoiding the pitfalls of copyrighted material. His enthusiastic promotional pitch won the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield contest in 2015. Eventually, Jukedeck was acquired by TikTok, where he contributed to music services for some time.
After spending a few years with companies like Snap and Stability, Newton-Rex is now reflecting on how to forge a sustainable future while respecting the creative past, a perspective influenced by his current residence in the Bay Area, where his wife, Alice Newton-Rex, serves as VP of product at WhatsApp.
The album’s release coincides with proposed shifts in U.K. copyright law. To stimulate AI development and attract businesses to the industry, the government suggests enabling organizations to use artists’ content sans permission or compensation.
Artists opting out will need to explicitly indicate they do not wish their works to be included.
However, Newton-Rex believes that this approach creates a dismal scenario for artists, given the absence of clear opt-out mechanisms and a reliable way to track the specific materials utilized in AI systems.
“We know that opt-out systems often go ignored,” he remarked. “This will undoubtedly allow AI companies access to 90-95% of artists’ work.”
What’s the alternative? Artists are considering producing their work in regions with stronger protection laws. Hewitt Jones, who famously threw a working keyboard into a harbor in a recent protest (only to retrieve it afterward, albeit broken), noted he is exploring distribution options in places like Switzerland in the future.
Yet, the predicament faced in a Kent harbor pales in comparison to the unpredictable landscape of the internet.
“For years, we’ve been encouraged to share our creations online for better visibility. Now, AI companies and, unbelievably, governments are suggesting, ‘Well, you put that out there for free…’” Newton-Rex stated. “Consequently, many artists are halting their creative processes and sharing of their work. Numerous artists have reached out to me expressing this sentiment.”
Or perhaps, as the situation suggests, they’re choosing not to.
The album is set to be widely available on music platforms starting Tuesday, with all donations or proceeds directed to the charity Help Musicians.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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