1,000 UK artists release silent album to protest AI using their work

4 hrs ago

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Harry Fogle (Video Editor)

One thousand British artists have released a silent album titled “Is This What We Want?” to protest proposed legislation that could allow AI to use their work without permission. The album features 12 tracks of ambient silence recorded in empty rooms and is credited to “1,000 UK Artists.”
The silent album is meant to symbolize the potential void in artistic expression if the legislation is passed.
Proceeds from the album will be donated to Help Musicians, a charity that supports musicians throughout their careers and into retirement.

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One thousand British artists released a silent album to protest proposed legislation. The law could allow artificial intelligence to use their work without permission.

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The album, titled “Is This What We Want?,” features 12 tracks of ambient silence. Each song title forms a sentence: “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.” The album credits “1,000 UK Artists.”

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Silent album symbolizes artistic void

The silent album represents the loss of artistic expression if the law passes. Notable contributors include Kate Bush and Annie Lennox, and hundreds of other U.K. musicians also participated.

Proceeds from “Is This What We Want?” will go to Help Musicians, a charity supporting musicians throughout their careers.

Copyright law changes spark controversy

In December, the U.K. government proposed changes to copyright laws. The plan would let AI companies use copyrighted material, such as music and art, without a creator’s consent.

The government’s website states that the U.K. wants to remain a creative industry leader and believes AI can boost innovation.

“The British government is consulting on a new approach that protects both AI developers and right holders. The goal is to deliver a solution that allows both to thrive,” said the government, according to The Associated Press.

Global issue impacting artists

The issue is global. Recently, thousands of U.S. artists signed an open letter to Christie’s auction house. They accused Christie’s of exploiting copyrighted works in its AI art auction.

Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, Celebrities, Copyright infringement, Music, music rights, United Kingdom

[KENNEDY FELTON]

YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST JUST DROPPED AN ALBUM.. BUT YOU TURN IT ON TO HEAR THIS…

… ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

WELL – THAT’S WHAT ONE THOUSAND BRITISH ARTISTS JUST DID – RELEASING A SILENT ALBUM TO PROTEST PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT COULD ALLOW A-I TO USE THEIR WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION.

THE ALBUM IS TITLED “IS THIS WHAT WE WANT?” AND IT FEATURES TWELVE TRACKS OF AMBIENT SILENCE RECORDED IN EMPTY ROOMS AND SPACES – SYMBOLIZING THE POTENTIAL VOID IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IF THE LEGISLATION IS PASSED. THE SONG TITLES DELIVER A MESSAGE THAT READS IN FULL – The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies – CREDITING “1,000 UK Artists.”

SOME OF THE NOTABLE ARTISTS INCLUDE KATE BUSH AND ANNIE LENNOX.. JOINED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER BIG AND SMALLER ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE U-K MUSIC INDUSTRY.

IN DECEMBER… THE U-K GOVERNMENT PROPOSED CHANGES TO COPYRIGHT LAWS THAT WOULD ALLOW A-I COMPANIES TO TRAIN THEIR MODELS USING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL LIKE MUSIC AND OTHER ART FORMS. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE… THE U-K AIMS TO REMAIN A LEADER IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES WHILE HARNESSING A-I TO ACCELERATE INNOVATION.

“[The British Government is] consulting on a new approach that protects the interests of both AI developers and right holders and delivers a solution which allows both to thrive.” – British Government statement via The Associated Press

IN RESPONSE TO CRITICS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION… THE ASSOCIATED PRESS says THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT is consulting on a new approach that protects the interests of both AI developers and right holders and delivers a solution which allows both to thrive.

The issues echo SIMILAR CHALLENGES FACED BY ARTISTS IN THE U-S… INCLUDING A RECENT STORY WE REPORTED ON INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF ARTISTS SIGNING AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIE’S AUCTION HOUSE… ACCUSING ITS A-I ART AUCTION OF EXPLOITING COPYRIGHTED WORKS.

AS FOR THE 1-THOUSAND U-K ARTISTS… PROCEEDS FROM THE SILENT ALBUM WILL BE DONATED TO ‘HELP MUSICIANS’ – A CHARITY DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING MUSICIANS THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS AND INTO RETIREMENT.