Paul McCartney: Don't let AI rip off artists

In a recent interview with the BBC, Sir Paul McCartney, a legendary musician and one of the last surviving members of The Beatles, expressed his concerns about potential changes to copyright laws that could negatively impact artists and musicians. He warned that these changes might allow technology companies to use the work of creators without their permission, which could make it difficult for them to earn a living. McCartney reminisced about his early days in Liverpool, where he and his friends found joy in making music while also being able to pay their bills. He fears that the proposed changes could diminish the motivation for new artists to create, leading to a significant loss of creativity in the music industry. McCartney stated, 'When we were kids in Liverpool, we found a job that we loved, but it also paid the bills. ' He emphasized that the government has a responsibility to protect artists and their rights, urging them to reconsider their plans. He passionately declared, 'We're the people, you're the government! You're supposed to protect us. That's your job. ' The government is currently considering a new copyright framework that would allow artificial intelligence (AI) companies to use online content for their models without needing to respect copyright laws, unless the original creators opt out. This means that if a musician writes a song, someone else could potentially take that song and use it without any consequences. McCartney highlighted the plight of young musicians, saying, 'You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don't own it, and they don't have anything to do with it. ' He pointed out that while someone is profiting from the music, it should be the original creator who receives the payment. He specifically mentioned the song 'Yesterday,' asking why the person who wrote it should not be compensated for their work. Critics of the government's proposal argue that it is impractical for individual artists to notify numerous AI companies that they do not want their content used. They believe that a better approach would be to allow artists to opt in, giving them the choice to permit their work to be used. This alternative proposal will be presented in the House of Lords by Baroness Kidron. Tom Kiehl, the chief executive of UK Music, expressed his concerns about the government's plans, stating that they could put the music industry at significant risk. He warned that these changes could harm the creative sector, which already contributes over £120 billion to the economy. Kiehl emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest that artists can effectively opt out of their work being used by AI systems, making the government's proposal insufficient to reassure those in the music industry. A government spokesperson responded by highlighting the UK's world-class music industry and its history of producing celebrated artists. They stated that the government is committed to ensuring strong protections for artists regarding AI and that they are eager to hear the music industry's views on the proposed changes. The spokesperson assured that any decisions would only be made once they are confident that artists will have clarity, control, and transparency in the new copyright framework. In 2023, Sir Paul and fellow Beatle Sir Ringo Starr utilized AI technology to extract vocals from an unfinished demo left by John Lennon, resulting in a song that has received widespread acclaim and nominations for prestigious awards. Sir Paul recently completed his Got Back tour, performing in various countries before concluding at London's O2 Arena. The full interview with Paul McCartney is set to air on Sunday, January 26, at 09:00 GMT.