Brian May has become the latest artist to have his say on the ongoing debate regarding AI in music.
This comes after over 1,000 artists came together to release a silent album, as a sign of protest against planned changes to copyright AI laws planned by the British Government. The Government have been planning to make changes to copyright laws, which would enable AI to develop and train their models using copyrighted work, without needing a licence.
Opposition to this have warned that if artists are not compensated for AI recreating and copying their work, it would lead to a decrease in creativity, with this opt out option putting a burden on artists.
Artists who came together to release this album, include Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, and was co written by Billy Ocean, Jamiroquai, The Clash, Imogen Heap, along with a number of composers, conductors, and producers, as well as a myriad of Oscar, Grammy and Brit Award winners.
Queen frontman, Brian May is now the latest musician to lead the campaign against AI, warning that “nobody will be able to afford to make music” if “monstrously arrogant” tech companies continue under UK government’s AI copyright rules.
“My fear is that it’s already too late – 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. The future is already forever changed", May said.
He added: “But I applaud this campaign to make the public aware of what is being lost. 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".
These AI proposals have also been criticised by household names like Paul McCartney, who warned that they could "rip off" artists. More on that here.
McCartney's comments were also echoed by Elton John. More on this here.
