Technology

UK music fans back stronger protections against AI use in music creation

Thursday, 24 April 2025 1:00AM UTC

A new survey from the BPI reveals that a majority of UK music consumers support clear labelling of AI-generated music and believe artists should have control over how AI uses their work. The findings come amid government proposals to amend copyright law and calls from prominent musicians to protect creative rights.

A recently published survey conducted by the BPI, the organisation representing the UK’s record companies and label businesses, has shed light on public attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. The survey, involving over 1,750 music consumers across the UK, was conducted by BPI in partnership with AudienceNet, and forms part of the BPI’s All About the Music 2025 yearbook.

The research captures prevailing opinions on the role of AI in music creation, particularly in the context of ongoing debates triggered by proposals from the UK Government to amend copyright law. These proposed changes would allow AI developers to use UK music, books, films and other works to train generative AI models without requiring authorisation or providing compensation to creators or rights holders.

Key findings from the survey highlight a strong preference among UK music fans for protecting human creativity and maintaining transparency in AI use:

A significant majority of respondents, 81.5%, stated that music generated solely by AI should be clearly labelled to distinguish it from human-made music.
78.5% believed that an artist’s music or vocals should not be ingested or utilised by AI without permission from the artist or their record label.
72.7% feel that AI systems should explicitly list any music they have ingested or used during training.
Over 82% agreed that human creativity is essential to producing music, and over 80% value music created by humans more than AI-generated music.
Furthermore, 64.3% expressed disinterest in AI-generated music that mimics or impersonates their favourite artist.

The survey also reveals that 71.5% of respondents think governments should play a role in regulating AI’s capabilities within music, while 61.4% believe music created solely by AI without human creative input should not qualify for copyright protections.

These public views resonate with those of many creators and members of the UK’s music industry, who have consistently voiced opposition to the Government’s copyright proposals. High-profile artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Kate Bush have participated in campaigns against these changes. Notable examples include the release of the protest album Is This What We Want?, backed by over 1,000 musicians such as Annie Lennox and Sam Fender, and the Make It Fair campaign, which has garnered support from artists nominated at the BRIT Awards 2025.

Sophie Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at the BPI, remarked: “Britain’s music fans are adding their voices to the chorus of creators and creative businesses who want to see AI develop legally, respectfully and responsibly. This research shows support for several of our key asks, including that transparency should be an integral requirement for all AI models, that copyright must not be weakened to favour big tech as the Government proposes, and that music should not be used for AI training without authorisation from the creator or rights holder.”

Ed Newton-Rex, founder of Fairly Trained and a campaigner for respecting creators’ rights in AI, commented: “This survey reinforces what the government must surely already know: the public overwhelmingly supports the fair treatment of artists by AI companies, and rejects the idea that their work should be handed to AI companies without their permission. It’s vitally important that the government listens to the public, and to the creative community, and scraps its unfair proposals to weaken copyright law. It should represent the people, not big tech.”

The survey findings come ahead of World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April 2025, which focuses on the theme “Intellectual property and music: Feel the beat of IP,” underscoring the connection between creativity and copyright protection.

The BPI’s All About the Music 2025 yearbook provides an expansive overview of the UK recorded music industry, featuring data and analysis that trace industry growth, trends in independent music, and insights into fan behaviours. The annual publication draws upon various authoritative sources including the Official Charts Company, AudienceNet, MIDiA, Luminate and IFPI, making it a comprehensive resource for understanding the evolving music market in the UK.

The BPI’s recent survey and the ensuing discussions reveal a continued emphasis on safeguarding the rights of music creators amid emerging technologies, highlighting the complexities at the intersection of innovation, intellectual property, and cultural production.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.bpi.co.uk/news-analysis/new-survey-reveals-uk-fans-want-greater-transparency-over-ai-generated-music/ - This source corroborates the survey data by BPI showing that 81.5% of respondents want AI-generated music to be clearly labelled, 78.5% oppose use of an artist's music or vocals by AI without permission, 72.7% want explicit listing of music used in AI training, and over 82% value human creativity in music production.
https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59635/documents/6178 - This parliamentary document provides context on the UK Government's proposed amendments to copyright law related to AI training, reflecting the music industry's stance and concerns about protecting human creativity and rights holders, as mentioned in the article.
https://www.ukmusic.org/news/uk-music-is-launching-our-2025-economic-survey-for-music-creators-2/ - This announcement from UK Music confirms the release of the 2025 economic survey for music creators, which includes questions on AI's impact, supporting the article's mention of the collaboration with AudienceNet and the nature of the survey.
https://www.bpi.co.uk/news-analysis/ifpi-releases-global-music-report-2025/ - This IFPI report source, referenced by BPI, underscores the broader context of the global music industry's growth and trends, paralleling the article's reference to the BPI’s All About the Music 2025 yearbook incorporating data from IFPI and other authoritative sources.
https://www.bpi.co.uk/news-analysis/bpi-chief-strategy-officer-sophie-jones-responds-to-ai-survey/ - An official BPI statement by Sophie Jones highlights key survey findings, including demands for transparency in AI use, opposition to weakening copyright to benefit big tech, and the need for authorization for AI training, directly supporting her quoted remarks in the article.
https://www.makeitfair.uk/ - The Make It Fair campaign website demonstrates industry and artist opposition to the UK Government’s copyright law proposals regarding AI, including participation by high-profile artists such as Paul McCartney and Elton John, validating the article's description of protests and the campaign.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQdkxUaVVhLUNHdFRRRUVjZjJqWVVpeWt6S3R5ZmQ1cUZBWk9GSlYxTFUtblRXSEdiVmhjVTJBR0Vlb190TjNac3N5RC1kQS04UlpJWWFkVjdza3hxUjZqQ010N3RnZEd1bkdlV0ZaRXVMZzBLc1dMdWJFWlBUeGNMR1k3OHFMMzhSVUVDSkdxSTJhbkRmLW8xM294Vm5ILTJWdnZMOW9LdWZ0WXpSbGszNllGYw?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative is fresh, referencing recent events like the BPI's All About the Music 2025 yearbook and campaigns involving high-profile artists against UK Government proposals. It also previews World Intellectual Property Day in April 2025, indicating a timely context.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: The quotes from Sophie Jones and Ed Newton-Rex seem original to this context, but without further historical data, it's challenging to confirm these as the earliest occurrences. The lack of prior digital records doesn't necessarily imply originality but does suggest they might not be repeated quotes.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from reputable sources, including the BPI and involves partnerships with well-established organisations like AudienceNet. This suggests a basis in credible data and industry expertise.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The findings align with ongoing debates about AI and copyright in the music industry, reflecting plausible public opinions and industry concerns. The engagement of high-profile artists further supports the narrative's plausibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is well-supported by recent, relevant data and involves reputable sources, enhancing its credibility. The quotes appear original, and the discussion aligns with current industry debates about AI and copyright.

AI in music
copyright law
music industry