What Will The Government’s Proposed Changes to the Rules on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Mean for the UK Music Industry? – UK Music

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The UK Government has launched a consultation exercise on copyright and Artificial Intelligence. But what could this mean for music creators?
04.02.2025: The UK Government has launched a consultation exercise on copyright and Artificial Intelligence. But what could this mean for music creators? Here, UK Music outlines the Government’s proposals, what it could mean for music creators and fans, and our response to these controversial plans.  
So, what is the Government’s position on copyright and AI?
In a nutshell, the Government wants to create an ecosystem in which AI companies can thrive and develop with minimal obstruction. A key part of this development is dependent upon their ability to train AI computers using the work of human creators – in this case songwriters and rightsholders. Without sufficient copyright legislation in place, this means the work of human creators can be used without consent or payment. 
To combat this, the Government has proposed an EU-style opt-out system, referred to as a rights reservation mechanism. However, the music industry believes that such a measure would offer insufficient protection for artists, songwriters, labels, publishers, producers, sound engineers, and the music industry as a whole. This is primarily due to the fact any opt-out process is both confusing and virtually impossible to navigate, as creators would be required to opt-out from each and every AI company’s individual policy.
What is the music industry’s response?
The music industry has strongly opposed the Government’s proposal, calling for a framework that would put creators’ rights first. From industry leaders, such as UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl, through to international icons including the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John, the response has been unequivocal. 
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Paul spoke out on the huge impact insufficient copyright framework could have upon artists. 
He said there was a risk that AI would create a “Wild West” in which artists’ copyright is not properly protected. 
He told the BBC: “You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it. 
“They don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off. 
“The truth is, the money’s going somewhere. Somebody’s getting paid, so why shouldn’t it be the guy who sat down and wrote Yesterday?” 
Sir Paul urged the Government to think again about its plans, saying: “We’re the people, you’re the Government! You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job. 
“So you know, if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.” 
Tom Kiehl also spoke to Laura Kuenssberg to illustrate the industry’s requirements from Government.  
“Government plans to change copyright law to make it easier for AI firms to use the music of artists, composers and music companies without their permission put the music industry at a huge risk,” he said. 
“It would be a wild punt against the creative sector that is already contributing over £120 billion to the economy and be counterproductive to the Government’s own growth ambitions. 
“There is no evidence that creatives can effectively “opt out” of their work from being trained by AI systems and so this apparent concession does not provide any reassurance to those that work in music.” 
Sir Elton John echoed these sentiments when speaking to the Sunday Times. 
He said: “The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods.”
“This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists’ work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music. This will dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings even further. The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly.”
He went on to say that it is “harder than ever for new and emerging musicians to make the finances of the industry stack up to sustain a fledgling career, due to challenging financial situations, including the increased costs of touring”.
He added “Without thorough and robust copyright protection that allows artists to earn hard-fought earnings from their music, the UK’s future place on the world stage as a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy.
“It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country’s future success in the creative industries depends on it.” 
Tom Kiehl also described the needs of the music industry in light of the consultation in an exclusive Music Week op-ed, which you can read in full here. 
Furthermore, Tom joined a raft of leading figures from across the creative industries in the Daily Mail calling for Government to act to prevent AI firms from stealing the work of creators. You can read the piece in full here.
Collective action
In addition to individuals speaking out on the matter, the music industry has come together to in the form of CRAIC (Creative Rights in AI Coalition). Made up of rights holders including publishers, authors, artists, music producers, specialist interest publications, unions, and photographers, CRAIC is a collective voice calling on the Government to spur growth in the creative and tech sectors by protecting copyright as generative AI policy develops.
You can read their statement on creative rights in AI and find out everything else you need to know about CRAIC here. 
What next? 
The music industry has until February 25 2025 when the consultation closes to make its case for creators and reject the opt-out system being proposed by Government.  
A House of Lords’ vote on January 28 backed music creators over proposed Government changes to copyright rules. Peers voted by 145 to 126 in favour of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill that are aimed at strengthening copyright protections when it comes to AI companies using the work of human creators. 
The vote marked a defeat for the Government and an important victory for UK Music and campaigners fighting to ensure music creators are protected. 
Crossbench Peer Baroness Kidron, who proposed the amendments, said they would help enforce existing property rights by improving transparency and laying out a redress procedure. 
She said: “It surely goes without saying that our United Kingdom copyright law has to counter the increasing theft of intellectual property by artificial intelligence companies,” 
Responding to her comments, UK Music’s Tom Kiehl said: “UK Music is delighted to see such strong support from the House of Lords in defence of human creativity. Artificial Intelligence has benefits to sectors like music, yet more transparency from AI firms relating to the music they are training on is needed. 
“It is now incumbent on the Government to ensure these much-needed amendments are retained in the House of Commons and any steps to weaken copyright law in favour of AI are reconsidered.” 
How can you make your voice heard? 
One of the most effective ways to combat the Government’s proposals is by writing to your MP. By clicking this link, you can simply enter your postcode to use CRAIC’s email template to write to your local MP, calling on them to safeguard creative rights in AI and asking them to write to Government Ministers about this critical issue. 
This will send MPs a clear message that creatives oppose the weakening of copyright protections for the benefit of AI firms and want our rights to be protected. 
You can also find everything you need to know and what you need to do to support music creators on our simple cribsheet here.
More information
Below you can find a list of useful links outlining details of the Government’s proposals and their implications for the music industry. 
UK Music experts Florian Koempel and Dougie Brown Q&A outlining implications of Government consultation. (27/01/2025)
UK Music Chief and Sir Paul McCartney Work to Stop AI Ripping Off Music Creators (26/01/2025)
UK Music Chief Outlines Concerns Over “Opting Out” of AI Training to Cross-Party MPs and Peers Group (24/01/2025)
UK Music Chief Urges Government To Rethink AI Proposals (21/01/2025) 
Help Stop AI Robots Ripping Off Our Brilliant Music Creators – UK Music (03/02/2025)
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