British musicians are fighting back against controversial AI legislation with an unprecedented silent protest album titled Is This What We Want?. Featuring contributions from icons like Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, and Cat Stevens, the project aims to block government plans allowing tech firms to use copyrighted music for AI training unless artists explicitly opt out.
The album’s 12 tracks contain only empty studio recordings and abandoned performance spaces. Track titles spell out the urgent message: “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.” All proceeds support Help Musicians, a charity aiding struggling artists.
“This proposal hands musicians’ life work to AI corporations for free, letting them exploit our art to replace us,” said composer Ed Newton-Rex, the album’s organizer. “It’s disastrous and unnecessary – Britain can lead in AI without destroying creativity.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government claims the AI copyright overhaul will balance creator rights with technological growth. A December 2023 consultation paper argues the changes could help developers access “high-quality creative content” while letting artists seek payment for AI use. Critics counter that the opt-out system shifts power to tech giants:
- Musicians must actively monitor all AI platforms
- Copyright enforcement becomes prohibitively complex
- Smaller artists lack resources to protect their work
The Creative Rights in AI Coalition – including major publishers and The Associated Press – warns the policy could cripple the UK’s £109 billion creative sector. On Tuesday, national newspapers ran front-page wraparounds stating: “Let’s protect creative industries – it’s only fair.”
As the consultation period closes, artists argue the legislation threatens both livelihoods and cultural heritage. With AI-generated music streams growing 3,900% in 2024, many fear automated systems trained on their work could soon dominate playlists and licensing deals.
This protest follows global debates about AI ethics, including Hollywood’s 2023 strikes against studio AI proposals. Unlike the EU’s strict opt-in requirements for AI training data, the UK’s approach risks making musicians collateral damage in the AI gold rush.
