Max Richter issues warning to MPs about AI in the music industry

(Credits: Huxley)
In the ongoing debate swirling around the use of artificial intelligence in the music industry, classical composer Max Richter has now weighed in by issuing a warning to MPs as part of a hearing on the issue on February 4th.
Richter gave evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Science, Innovation and Technology committees as part of the UK government’s plans to shake up copyright laws to allow AI to model itself on existing music – a move which has sparked controversy in the industry.
The composer and campaigner passionately opposed the proposal, saying that if the ideas in the current consultation are implemented then “there is no future for human creators.”
Under the government’s plans, musicians would be able to ‘opt-out’ of their work being used to train AI models, but Richter said: “Artists must have the right to determine whether to opt-in to any AI system being trained on their work, and if so, to be properly rewarded for that process,” in his statement given on February 4th.
“Music is the closest thing humanity has to magic. But all of this will fade into history unless we support creators’ rights,” he added, while acknowledging the fact that, “There are many areas of life, especially in scientific and technical fields, where it’s obvious there are huge benefits to the use of this technology. When it comes to creative work, however, the situation is more complex.”
Richter’s comments come after huge names in the music world have rallied against the increasing threat to AI in the industry. Significantly, The Beatles legend Paul McCartney recently told the BBC that the government’s plans would provoke a “loss of creativity” for artists in an environment that would turn into a “Wild West”.
He continued: “You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it. They don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off.”
McCartney has since been backed up by Elton John, who commented to the Sunday Times that the move would “allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists’ work,” and give them free rein to “ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods.”
Richter concluded his statement by noting, “The UK is the 2nd biggest exporter of music in the world, after the US, and the music business contributed £7.6BN to the UK economy last year”.
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