A new report reveals that almost three-quarters of musicians in the United Kingdom believe unregulated generative artificial intelligence poses a serious threat to their ability to earn a living, as AI tools increasingly use existing creative work without permission or compensation. The findings have ignited renewed calls for government intervention to protect jobs and livelihoods in the creative sector, highlighting deep concern about how AI is currently being developed and deployed in relation to copyrighted content.
Musicians and other creators argue that when AI systems are trained on copyrighted material without clear consent, it undermines traditional creative economies and shifts value away from human artists toward tech companies. These worries reflect broader industry frustrations with how generative AI models ingest vast libraries of music and other art to generate new content — often without clear licensing arrangements or remuneration for the original creators. The issue is part of a wider debate about the balance between innovation and protecting intellectual property rights.
This tension has already sparked industry-wide activism, with thousands of creatives signing statements demanding explicit consent and fair payment before their works are used to train AI systems. Many argue that without legal frameworks requiring licensing and attribution, musicians risk seeing both income and creative control eroded. Trade groups and unions representing creators are pushing for robust standards that ensure artists retain ownership rights and benefit economically from the use of their work in AI development.
The debate also plays out in public policy discussions in the UK, where past government proposals to ease copyright restrictions for AI training — such as optional text and data mining exceptions — drew overwhelming opposition from creators who fear those policies would weaken protections. Opponents insist that AI companies should be required to obtain permission and pay for the use of copyrighted material, echoing broader calls for updated laws that reflect the realities of AI’s impact on creative industries.
