More than 200 artists, including big names such as Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, and more, have come together to speak out against the threats posed by artificial intelligence in the music industry. In an open letter organized by the non-profit Artist Rights Alliance, the artists are calling on AI developers, technology companies, platforms, and digital music services to stop using AI in ways that infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists. The letter emphasizes how AI is poised to reshape creative industries and the US economy, highlighting threats such as deepfakes, voice cloning, and irresponsible uses of AI that diminish royalty payments and violate artists’ rights.
The letter emphasizes the enormous potential of AI to advance human creativity when used responsibly, while condemning platforms and developers who misuse AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, and musicians. The artists urge digital music platforms and services to pledge to protect artists against the predatory use of AI to steal voices and likenesses, violate rights, and disrupt the music ecosystem. Signatories to the letter include a wide range of artists, songwriters, celebrities, and entertainment companies, demonstrating the broad concerns surrounding AI in the entertainment industry and the need for increased protections against AI-related threats.
The executive director of the ARA, Jen Jacobsen, highlights how the threats of artificial intelligence are exacerbating the already challenging working conditions for artists, particularly in the streaming world. The use of generative AI to replace human artists not only devalues the music ecosystem for artists but also impacts fans. The letter aims to draw attention to the growing concern of AI in the entertainment business more broadly, reflecting ongoing labor union negotiations that have centered on AI protections. Media mogul Tyler Perry recently halted plans for an $800 million studio expansion in Atlanta after seeing the capabilities of OpenAI’s Sora, recognizing the potential job loss implications of AI-generated video.
Overall, the open letter from artists against artificial intelligence in the music industry underscores the need to address AI threats such as deepfakes, voice cloning, and irresponsible uses that diminish the rights and livelihoods of human artists. The letter emphasizes the potential for AI to advance creativity when used responsibly, while condemning platforms and developers who misuse AI to undermine artists and disrupt the music ecosystem. With a wide range of high-profile signatories lending their support, the letter aims to bring attention to the broader concerns surrounding AI in the entertainment industry and the need for increased protections against AI-related threats.
