• 1,000 UK musicians released a silent album protesting proposed copyright changes that would allow AI training without artist permission.-
  • The protest was organized by Ed Newton-Rex, whose petition against the changes has gained over 47,000 signatures from creative professionals.
  • Some artists are considering distributing their work in countries with stronger copyright protections rather than the UK.

A coalition of 1,000 British musicians has launched a unique protest against the UK government's proposed copyright law changes that would benefit AI companies at artists' expense.

The silent album, titled "Is This What We Want?", features recordings of empty studios and performance spaces from prominent artists including Kate Bush, Imogen Heap, Max Richter, and Thomas Hewitt Jones.

The project also includes co-writing credits from hundreds more artists, among them Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, The Clash, Billy Ocean, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and Hans Zimmer.

Unlike a usual album containing music, this album's 12 tracks feature ambient sounds—like Hewitt Jones' cats wandering around his studio—symbolizing what artists fear will be empty creative spaces if the proposed changes move forward.

The track titles collectively spell out: "The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies."

The protest responds to the UK government's plans to allow AI companies to train models on artists' online content without permission or payment unless creators proactively "opt-out"—a system organizers claim is fundamentally flawed.

"We know that opt-out schemes are just not taken up," said Ed Newton-Rex, the project's organizer. "This is just going to give 90% to 95% of people's work to AI companies. That's without a doubt."

Newton-Rex, a former AI music tech entrepreneur who won TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield in 2015 with his AI music composition platform Jukedeck, has been leading a larger campaign against unlicensed AI training.

His petition has gathered over 47,000 signatures from creative professionals.

Some artists are considering distributing their work in countries with stronger copyright protections. Hewitt Jones mentioned Switzerland as a potential alternative market for his future compositions.

The silent album will be available on music platforms with all proceeds going to the Help Musicians charity.

Edited By Annette George