Brian May claims “nobody will be able to afford to make music” if “monstrously arrogant” tech companies are allowed to train AI using copyrighted material
The government’s new plans to employ an ‘opt-out’ model for AI training has sparked uproar within the music industry. The proposal would render all previous copyright laws obsolete for AI, leaving tech companies free to train on anything unless an artist has made a point of ‘opting-out’. Brian May has been the latest to throw his hat into the ring.
Though he fears it may already be “too late”, the Queen guitarist is backing the Daily Mail’s campaign against AI. “This theft has already been performed and is unstoppable, like so many incursions that the monstrously arrogant billionaire owners of Al and social media are making into our lives,” he says. “The future is already forever changed.”
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“I applaud this campaign to make the public aware of what is being lost,” May continues. “I hope it succeeds in putting a brake on, because if not, nobody will be able to afford to make music from here on in.”
This isn’t the first time May has spoken out about AI. Speaking to Guitar Player in 2023, the guitarist predicted that we “might look back on 2023 as the last year when humans really dominated the music scene.”
“I think by this time next year the landscape will be completely different,” he continued. “We won’t know which way is up. We won’t know what’s been created by AI and what’s been created by humans… I really think it could be that serious, and that doesn’t fill me with joy. It makes me feel apprehensive, and I’m preparing to feel sad about this.”
May’s comments in the Daily Mail will help play a role in a new anti-AI campaign across UK’s print media. As reported by the Independent, today’s editions of the Daily Mail, Daily Express, The i Paper, The Times and more newspapers bore headlines condemning the government’s AI plans.
Alongside May’s comments, the Daily Mail also shared some exclusive words from Sir Elton John condemning AI. “The UK’s creative sector is the envy of the world, but we only achieved that success with the backing of our long-standing copyright protection – the world’s gold standard,” he says. “And it’s paid off: Our creative industries drive economic growth and create jobs for the UK, as well as fuelling our ongoing leadership in world affairs.”
“We all recognise and embrace the fact that generative AI technology offers some incredible opportunities for us all,” he continues. “This is not new. The music community has always been quick to adopt new technologies… But adoption of this copyright exception would destroy the UK’s leadership that has been hard won, and what’s worse, it would give it all away. For nothing.’
The campaign has also been backed by the X Factor’s typically hard-faced Simon Cowell. “The thought that anyone would believe they have the right to blindly give this country’s creative ideas away – for nothing – is just wrong,” he says. “I passionately care about people’s personal creativity – and AI shouldn’t be able to steal the talent of those humans who created the magic in the first place.”
Today has also seen over 1,000 artists joining together to release a ‘silent album’ in protest of the proposed ‘opt-out’ copyright model. Is This What We Want? features multiple recordings of silent studios, aiming to highlight how empty the music industry would be without its human artists.
The record features multiple composers, singers, producers and from across the board. From Damon Albarn, to Kate Bush, to the Clash, to Hans Zimmer, countless creatives are making a stand. All profits are being donated to the charity Help Musicians.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
