Sony Music UK supports the ‘Make It FAIr’ campaign, calling on policymakers to respect UK copyright law and not let Gen AI companies train on music without permission. pic.twitter.com/7CS9iuIM80

— Sony Music UK (@SonyMusicUK) February 25, 2025

In a recent submission to a UK government consultation on copyright laws, Sony Music expressed concerns that potential changes in legislation could exacerbate the problem. Rob Stringer, Chairman of Sony Music Group, said: “AI is going to change the world, however, there can be no question that creators must be rewarded for being part of this technological revolution. Safeguarding the existing UK copyright model ensures AI developers and content owners can innovate whilst also recognising the value of the works on which their products are based”. Several celebrities have publicly addressed the issue of the proposed copyright law changes, including Elton John, Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, and Jimmy Page. These musicians have actively voiced their concerns regarding the unauthorised use of artists’ works in AI training, advocating for stronger protections within the creative industry.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jimmy Page (@jimmypage)

Executives at Sony believe that the 75,000 identified deepfake recordings are only a fraction of the total AI-generated content circulating online. Unlike traditional copyright enforcement, identifying and removing AI-generated material is a complex and time-consuming process that relies heavily on manual detection methods. Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly powerful tool in music production, enabling users to create hyper-realistic vocal imitations of popular artists. From AI-generated covers to entirely new songs mimicking famous voices, the technology has raised ethical and legal questions about intellectual property in the digital age. For example, here is an AI-generated Amy Winehouse singing Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers‘ in a jazz style:

Sony’s actions reflect broader concerns within the music industry about the implications of AI-generated content. The company has urged policymakers to implement stricter copyright protections, ensuring that artists maintain control over their work and are fairly compensated for their contributions. Several other major record labels have also voiced their concerns, including Universal Music Group (UMG) which is advocating for AI protections in licensing agreements with distributors like TikTok and Meta. The industry is now calling for more advanced content identification tools and clear legal frameworks to protect artists from exploitation.

As the debate over AI deepfakes intensifies, Sony Music’s efforts highlight the urgent need for regulatory action. With technology continuing to evolve rapidly, the music industry faces an ongoing battle to safeguard artistic integrity in an era of artificial intelligence.

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Page detailed his own journey from session musician to one of the most famous guitar players in the world, and said his path “was not paved by algorithms or data sets” but by spontaneous improvisation and the human spirit. He also described the government’s plans as a “free pass for AI to exploit creativity without consequence” and called for legislation that protects the rights of the artist.   

Page is just one of many UK musicians to voice their concerns, including Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, Thom Yorke, Kate Bush, and Gary Numan. The former Beatle appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg in January to voice his concerns, saying, “If they take the incentive away by not protecting the copyrights, I think you’d see a loss of creativity. That’s a great pity because it brings so much joy to the world.” 

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The Musicians Union has also voiced their own concerns and released a statement last month. “The MU’s position is to oppose the exception and rights reservation system, and request that copyright be strengthened with the introduction of a new AI training right in UK copyright law.”

The proposal comes as part of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which is currently in the committee stage in the House of Commons. The changes, which have been described as the governments’ preferred approach, would allow AI companies to data mine copyrighted works without permission under an opt-out system, which as Page pointed out, is impossible in reality.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is headed by Dame Caroline Dinenage, who has described the government’s opt-in, opt-out stance as “the legislative equivalent of the hokey-kokey.” The Labour government’s own MP, James Frith, spoke out about the importance of copyright, enabling those who create art to also be able to make a living from it.

There is one week left to respond to the Government’s Copyright & AI consultation, which sets out damaging proposals to the UK’s world-leading creative industries.

Find out how you can voice your opposition here https://t.co/vhaVYD0htq pic.twitter.com/iA93EkYPYC

— BPI (@bpi_music) February 18, 2025

The debate has been growing, and just last week, over 1000 UK artists put their name to a silent album. ‘Is This What We Want?’ sent a stark message to legislators, with a track listing that spelled out ‘The British Government Must Not Legalise Music Theft To Benefit AI Companies’.  

Peter Kyle, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, one of the sponsors of the Bill, has defended the proposals. He told LBC that the aim is to create a market in the UK where AI companies respect domestic laws, arguing that loopholes are already being exploited in other countries.

“I will not be made to choose one industry over another.”@peterkyle speaks on @LBC about the recent AI Copyright Consultation pic.twitter.com/YTcr3OgHER

— Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (@SciTechgovuk) February 28, 2025

 The committee stage allows for amendments to be proposed based on various industry consultations. As the Bill moves into the report stage, it will be opened up to be debated in the House of Commons, further allowing refinements.

With time running out, the input of artists like Page will be crucial in shaping the Bill into something that works for those who rely on the protections offered by copyrights.