Content Creators Unite: Silent Album Marks Protest Against AI Exploitation of Their Work

Getty Images / Shutterstock (Left to right) Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, and Damon Albarn have all supported a silent album protest.

In an effort to draw attention to the potential impact of proposed changes to UK copyright law on livelihoods and the music industry, more than 1,000 musicians—including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Kate Bush—released “Is This What We Want?”

The album features sound recordings of empty studios and performance spaces. The tracklisting for the record simply spells out the message: “The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.”

Under the new proposals, AI developers will be able to use creators’ content on the internet without a license unless rights holders elect to “opt out.” Critics of the plan believe that it is not possible for an individual writer or artist to notify thousands of different AI service providers that they do not want their content used in this way.

Organiser Ed Newton-Rex said, “The proposals are disastrous for musicians” and “totally unnecessary,” as the country can be “leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus.”

Tuesday’s national newspapers carried a wrap-around advert for the Make It Fair Campaign. The campaign is urging people to write to their MPs to object to the government’s plans.