Music legend Sir Paul McCartney has broken a five-year recording hiatus to join a powerful, silent protest against the threat of Artificial Intelligence to Britain's creative industries. The former Beatle is the most prominent name on a groundbreaking new album, 'Is this what we want?', which is designed to audibly demonstrate the potential devastation AI poses to the music sector if copyright laws are weakened.
A Chorus of Silence Against AI
This unique project features contributions from over 1,000 musicians, including other British icons such as Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and The Clash. Instead of music, the album is composed of recordings of empty studios and silent performance spaces. This artistic choice serves as a stark warning of what the future could hold—a cultural silence—if the government allows tech firms to flout existing copyright laws.
The intervention comes amid growing alarm that Silicon Valley giants are looting the work of British artists, using their text, images, and music to train AI models without permission or compensation. Artists currently benefit from automatic copyright protection, which should legally entitle them to payment if their work is used in this way.
Government Under Fire from Creatives
Ed Newton-Rex, the composer behind the album, voiced a concern shared by many in the sector: ‘I am very concerned the government is paying more attention to US tech companies' interests rather than British creatives' interests.’
Speaking on the issue last year, Sir Paul McCartney expressed his fear for the next generation, stating, ‘If AI wipes that out, that would be a very sad thing indeed.’ Similarly, Kate Bush, who contributed a piece, poignantly asked the Government, ‘In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?’
The Ongoing Battle for Copyright
The creative industry is now intensely lobbying ministers to protect copyright, countering strong lobbying efforts from US tech interests. While the government has temporarily stepped back from controversial plans that would have forced creatives to 'opt out' of having their work used, the future remains uncertain.
A government spokesman stated, ‘We've always been clear on the need to work with both the creative industries and AI sector to drive AI innovation and ensure robust protections for creators.’ An update on their plans is expected before December, although significant legislative changes are not anticipated to be debated in Parliament soon.
This powerful statement, pressed onto vinyl, will be available to the public from December 8, offering a silent but profound message about the value of human creativity.
