Concerns Grow Over AI’s Impact on UK Creative Industries
Members of Parliament have raised alarms that British writers, musicians, artists, and journalists risk having “each and every piece of their creativity” appropriated by artificial intelligence (AI) under government initiatives that would grant technology giants unrestricted access to UK-generated content. Politicians and leaders from the creative sector argue that Labour’s proposed modifications to copyright protections could severely threaten the UK’s vibrant creative industries.
The coalition behind the Make It Fair campaign, launched yesterday, unites media, publishing, and entertainment organizations in opposition to these plans. While government officials contend that their proposals—allowing generative AI models to be trained on high-quality UK content at no cost—will position Britain as a global AI hub and stimulate economic growth, critics are voicing serious concerns.
Renowned artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Dua Lipa have expressed their worries, indicating that the profitability and livelihoods of creators could be jeopardized on a massive scale. The Make It Fair campaign, which has received backing from The i Paper, advocates for the preservation of existing copyright laws, requiring AI companies to disclose the sources of their training data and to compensate creators through licensing fees for the British content they utilize.
Pete Wishart, an SNP MP and former member of the Scottish rock bands Big Country and Runrig, articulated the gravity of the situation in an interview with The i Paper: “If these plans move forward, we could find ourselves in a scenario where AI companies can exploit human creativity without any payment, leveraging it to outshine our own artists. This poses an existential threat to our creative heritage, enabling it to be recycled without any form of compensation.”
Wishart continued, “My inbox is flooded with messages from constituents who are deeply concerned about these developments. I believe the Government will need to heed these voices. Its ambitions to transform the UK into an AI-friendly economy must not come at the cost of dismantling one of our most treasured and financially rewarding sectors.”
Anneliese Midgley, Labour MP for Knowsley and a member of the Musicians’ Union, added, “I’ve been overwhelmed with inquiries from musicians who are understandably worried about the implications of these proposals for their livelihoods. The music industry has long been structured in a way that takes advantage of musicians, and the advent of streaming services has only intensified this issue.”
- “Household names—artists who have topped charts and graced magazine covers—are finding it increasingly difficult to make a living, while emerging musicians struggle to gain any recognition. Many go unpaid for extended periods. Although songs are streamed more than ever, the financial return to musicians is dwindling. Someone is profiting, but it isn’t those who create the music.”
- “Big tech companies should not be allowed to generate and profit from music without seeking permission or providing compensation.”
Midgley expressed her satisfaction with the Ministers’ willingness to engage with these concerns, stating, “As the Labour Party, the Government should ensure that artists, songwriters, and musicians receive fair compensation for their work and are shielded from exploitation by faceless tech giants.”
The backlash against the proposals, which are slated to be codified into law via the Data Bill currently making its way through Parliament, has united a diverse group of the UK’s most esteemed cultural and creative figures, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, Sir Tom Stoppard, and Sir Simon Rattle.
In a letter to The Times, these prominent voices condemned the Government’s plans as a “wholesale giveaway of rights and income from the UK creative sectors to big tech.” Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, a former special adviser to Rishi Sunak, and a trained pianist and composer who previously led the music industry body UK Music, described the proposals as a betrayal of Britain’s creative sector.
He remarked, “AI holds tremendous potential—it could revolutionize public services and drive essential medical advancements. However, maximizing these opportunities should not come at the expense of our world-leading creative industries, which is precisely what this policy threatens.”
Njoku-Goodwin added, “Allowing tech companies to freely utilize the Beatles’ back catalogue to train their AI models will not lead to breakthroughs in healthcare or public service innovations. Instead, it would wreak havoc on our creative industries and inflict irreparable damage on a sector where we genuinely excel.”
The consultation period for these proposals closed yesterday, with the Government expected to dismiss or obstruct several amendments aimed at preserving Britain’s 300-year-old copyright laws, which had previously passed in the House of Lords. Baroness Kidron, a filmmaker and cross-bench peer who introduced these amendments, has vowed to reintroduce them if the Government blocks them. She stated that the plans signify a detrimental move toward relinquishing Britain’s cultural heritage.
In an opinion piece for The Daily Telegraph, she emphasized, “The Government’s proposal to create an exemption for data mining by artificial intelligence companies may sound technical, but when you consider that the data being mined could include the latest Ed Sheeran song or the debut novel of someone who has worked tirelessly to support themselves while writing, it highlights the audacity of proposing to give away the property rights of others.”
The Make It Fair campaign, which prompted national and regional newspapers to devote their entire front pages to the issue, alongside the release of a “silent” album featuring 1,000 musicians, has also garnered international support. Bjorn Ulvaeus, co-founder of ABBA and president of CISAC, an international organization representing creators, remarked, “AI tools are an inevitable complement to human creativity. However, this progress must never come at the expense of creators’ rights. This is not merely an ethical concern; it’s also economically prudent, as the concept of copyright profoundly influences culture, employment, and the economy. We cannot allow it to be diluted by inadequate AI regulation.”
