Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is considering reviewing the law that allows AI developers to use composers' online content as a help to develop their models – unless the rights holders actively opt out.
However, critics question how artists will be able to monitor what happens to their work online and opt out of the many different AI companies' programs.
The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists' livelihoods. It will give global tech companies free and easy access to artists' work to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music, says Elton John to The Sunday Times.
Paul McCartney is also urging the government to rethink its plans in an interview with BBC:
If you're putting forward a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, otherwise you'll lose them.
The truth is that the money goes somewhere. Someone gets paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote "Yesterday?"
However, the Beatles legend is not entirely negative towards AI. In 2023, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr used AI to "extract" John Lennon's vocals from a demo cassette to the song "Now and Then", which was later nominated for two Grammys.
I think AI is fantastic and can do many great things, but it shouldn't "rip off" creative people, says McCartney.
