Artists Warn Against Predatory Use of AI in Open Letter, Call for Better Protections in Music Industry
A collective effort to protect human artists
April 3, 2024
Last updated: April 3, 2024, 9:35 a.m. ET
More than 200 artists, including Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Bon Jovi, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, and The Jonas Brothers have joined forces to emphasize the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry [Link: Artist Rights Alliance]. These artists signed an open letter, demanding an end to the utilization of AI at the expense of human artists [Link: The Post]. The open letter highlights the threats AI poses to creativity, privacy, and livelihoods [Link: Artist Rights Alliance].
The open letter, acquired exclusively by The Post, asserts that AI is being utilized to undermine human artists by certain platforms and developers [Link: The Post]. The artists express concern that the indiscriminate use of AI would dilute the royalty pools and hinder fair compensation for their work [Link: The Post]. They believe that unmonitored AI implementation in the industry would have severe consequences, particularly for artists struggling to make ends meet [Link: The Post].
Protecting creativity and the music ecosystem
The artists firmly convey that AI usage must be regulated to safeguard human creativity and avoid the wrongful adoption of artists’ voices and likenesses in AI-generated content [Link: Artist Rights Alliance]. While acknowledging the potential for responsible AI utilization to enhance human creativity and enrich music experiences [Link: The Post], the artists stress the urgent need for AI developers, technology companies, platforms, and digital music services to prioritize the protection of human artists’ rights [Link: The Post].
AI’s impact on the entertainment industry
It is important to note that AI’s disruptive influence extends beyond the music industry and also affects Hollywood actors [Link: The Post]. In the past, actors and writers organized strikes and protests to secure safeguards against the replacement of human workers with AI, as well as improved compensation and residuals from streaming platforms [Link: The Post]. Members of the Writer’s Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) reached settlements addressing their concerns regarding AI implementation [Link: The Post]. These developments highlight the growing need for comprehensive regulations to balance the potential benefits of AI with the protection and value of human artistic contributions.
In light of the grim conditions faced by working musicians and artists deriving their livelihood from the industry, Jen Jacobsen, Executive Director of the Artist Rights Alliance, expresses her concerns about the detrimental effects of AI-generated content and the exploitation of artists regardless of their financial struggles [Link: CNN]. Jacobsen states that the unethical use of AI to replace human artists devalues the entire music ecosystem, affecting both artists and fans [Link: CNN].
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