Council Of Music Makers statement on the UK government's consultation on copyright and AI

18 December 2024 - Press release

This consultation provides a unique moment for the government to protect individual creators' rights and facilitate a dynamic licensing market for the use of music and other creative works in building generative AI. This is the only way that the creative industries and AI sector will both flourish and grow.

The Council Of Music Makers recognises that AI presents new opportunities for the music business, but for these to be realised, the consent and remuneration of music-makers is key. 

Explicit consent must always be secured from music-makers, by either rightsholders or technology companies, before their music, lyrics, likeness or voice is used and exploited by AI models. And when licensing deals are done between the music industry and AI companies, all music-makers must be fairly remunerated for their contributions, without which this technology would not be possible. 

The CMM stands by the five fundamentals on AI it published more than a year ago. Music-makers now look forward to working with their business partners in the music industry, their fellow creators in other artforms, responsible technology companies and the government to ensure the UK's gold-standard, robust copyright framework continues. 

A framework that enables innovation and powers growth in a way that protects and champions the human creators behind the UK creative industries that generate over £100 billion annually.