Brian May Warns of Music Creation Crisis Due to AI Copyright Rules

Brian May, the iconic guitarist of Queen, has recently voiced his concern regarding the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. He believes that if technology companies continue to dominate without proper regulations, it could become financially impossible for artists to create music.

On February 25, a significant movement began when over 1,000 musicians, including renowned names like Damon Albarn, Kate Bush, and Annie Lennox, released a silent album to protest against potential changes in copyright laws related to AI. These changes, proposed by the UK government, would allow AI companies to utilize copyrighted material for developing their technologies without requiring permission from the original creators.

The proposed regulations would facilitate the use of online materials by these companies under the guise of “text or data mining.” This means that unless rights holders actively decide to “opt-out,” their creations could be used freely by AI entities.

Brian May has joined the protest, sharing his views through a campaign featured in a Daily Mail report. He expressed his fears, stating, “My concern is that the damage has already been done. This has turned into a form of theft that seems unstoppable, led by the arrogantly wealthy owners of AI and social media who are intruding on our lives. The future, as we know it, has already been altered.”

May eagerly supports this campaign, stating, “I appreciate the effort to raise public awareness about what is at stake. If this campaign does not succeed, music creation as we know it could become unaffordable for artists.”

This isn't May's first encounter with the serious implications of AI in music. Earlier in 2023, he highlighted his concerns about the rapid rise of AI within the industry, predicting that the landscape would dramatically change within a year, making it challenging to distinguish between human-generated content and that produced by AI.

Other artists, such as members of Radiohead, Bastille, Jamiroquai, The Clash, and Billy Ocean have also contributed to this silent album. The unique album was crafted in empty recording studios, where the tracklist bears the message: “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.”

In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) stated that the current laws hinder the potential growth of creative industries and the AI sector. They argued that the changes would protect both AI developers and rights holders, enabling a mutual benefit.

Despite the government's stance, many artists have raised alarms about how AI could impersonate their work and ultimately jeopardize their careers. They argue it is unrealistic to expect every artist to individually opt-out of having their material used by AI companies. The public consultation period for these legal changes ended on February 25.

This is not the first instance of artists rallying against AI's encroachment on their work. Kate Bush had previously signed a petition denouncing AI's use of artists' content without consent. By then, the petition had gained traction, with notable supporters like Thom Yorke from Radiohead, Paul McCartney, and 11,500 other individuals adding their names.

Recent studies indicate that the increasing presence of AI in the music industry could result in creatives losing up to 25% of their income within four years. The generative AI market, valued at €3 billion, is projected to skyrocket to €64 billion by 2028. The impact on streaming services is already noticeable; streaming platform Deezer reported around 10,000 AI-generated tracks are uploaded daily, representing about 10% of all music submissions on the platform.

Musicians like Nick Cave have also been vocal about the disturbing influence of AI in music, expressing that it undermines the fundamental struggles of artistic creation and reduces artists to mere consumers in the commodification of their work. He warned that the rise of AI signifies a frightening shift in the nature of creativity itself.

Brian May, AI, Copyright