AI vs. Artists: Why the Silent Album Isn’t Just a Protest

This week, over 400 UK artists — from Paul McCartney and Elton John to Florence Welch and Ian McKellen — signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to strengthen copyright protections against the unauthorised use of creative work by artificial intelligence (AI). Their demand is simple: transparency. Specifically, they support an amendment to the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Bill that would require AI developers to disclose exactly what copyrighted content has been used to train their models.

This movement isn’t about resisting technology. It’s about ensuring that as AI progresses, it does so ethically, with respect for the artists and creators who fuel our cultural lives. The letter warns that without safeguards, AI companies could bypass copyright protections entirely, extracting value from human creativity without credit or compensation.

To drive the point home, over 1,000 musicians released a 12-track silent album titled “Is This What We Want?” — a striking metaphor for a world where artistic voices are drowned out by unchecked automation. The album proceeds are being donated to Help Musicians, a charity supporting creatives across the UK.

While the original amendment was defeated in the House of Commons, the conversation is far from over. A second vote in the House of Lords is approaching, and the government has promised to consider further options.

For those of us working in creative and communications industries, this isn’t just a legal battle — it’s a cultural one. If AI is trained on our words, our music, our art — without permission — we’re not just losing ownership. We’re risking the erasure of the very thing that makes us human.

AI can be a tool for good. But it must not come at the cost of silencing the artists we admire — or the voices we’ve yet to hear.

Contact: Kerry Philps

E-Mail: readingcorner@literary-escape.co.uk

Company: Literary Escape Editorial Services

Tags: #Copyright #AI ethics #Creative Industries #Artists Against AI #Artificial Intelligence #Music Industry #UK Law #Human Made #Kerry Philps