Music Icons Paul McCartney and Elton John Criticize Proposed AI Copyright Changes in UK

Elton John backs Paul McCartney in criticising proposed overhaul to UK copyright system

The rock star called copyright 'the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity', ahead of a vote on a bill granting AI companies easier access to musicians' work Elton John has backed Paul McCartney in criticising a proposed overhaul of the UK copyright system, and has called for new rules to prevent tech companies from riding "roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists' livelihoods". John has backed proposed amendments to the data (use and access) bill that would extend existing copyright protections, when it goes before a vote in the House of Lords on Tuesday. The government is also consulting on an overhaul of copyright laws that would result in artists having to opt out of letting AI companies train their models using their work, rather than an opt-in model. McCartney told the BBC that the proposed changes could disincentivise writers and artists and result in a "loss of creativity". The former Beatle said: "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off." "The truth is, the money's going somewhere ... Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote Yesterday?" John told the Sunday Times that he felt "wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists' livelihoods. This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists' work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music. This will dilute and threaten young artists' earnings even further. The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly." He said that "challenging financial situations" and increased touring costs made it "harder than ever for new and emerging musicians to make the finances of the industry stack up to sustain a fledgling career", and added that the UK's place on the world stage as "a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy" without robust copyright protection. "It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country's future success in the creative industries depends on it." The government consultation runs until 25 February and will explore how to improve trust between the creative and AI sectors, and how creators can license and get paid for use of their material. A government spokesperson said: "Our aim is to deliver legal certainty through a copyright regime that provides creators with real control, transparency, and helps them license their content. "We are keen to hear the views of the music industry on these proposals, and no move will be made until we are absolutely confident that we are delivering clarity, control and transparency for artists and the sector, alongside appropriate access to data for AI innovators." McCartney said: "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job. So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." In 2023, McCartney and Ringo Starr created the song Now And Then using AI technology to separate John Lennon's vocals from a home demo recorded in 1977. In December 2024, McCartney warned that AI could "just take over", and signed a petition, alongside actors Julianne Moore, Stephen Fry and Hugh Bonneville, stating that "unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted".

Don't Let AI 'Rip Off' Artists, Beatles Star McCartney Warns UK Government

LONDON (Reuters) - Beatles musician Paul McCartney has warned that artificial intelligence could be used to "rip off" artists, urging the British government to make sure upcoming copyright reforms protect its creative industries. Globally the music and film industries are grappling with the legal and ethical implications of AI models that can produce their own output after being trained on popular works, without necessarily paying the creators of the original content. Britain in December proposed a way for artists to license their work to be used in training AI, but also said there should be an exception "to support use at scale of a wide range of material by AI developers where rights have not been reserved." In a BBC interview broadcast on Sunday, McCartney said he was worried only tech giants would benefit unless copyrights were properly protected. "AI is a great thing, but it shouldn't rip creative people off," McCartney said. "Make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them. As simple as that." The government is currently consulting on its reforms to copyright law, saying there was legal uncertainty about how the existing laws are applied in Britain that risked undermining investment and adoption of AI technology. McCartney, who in 2023 used AI to help recreate the voice of late Beatles band member John Lennon from an old cassette recording, said there was a risk that artists could lose out if the changes were not handled properly. "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 and anyone who wants can just rip it off," he said. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere, you know, and it gets on the streaming platforms - somebody's getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't just be some tech giant somewhere." (Reporting by William James; editing by Clelia Oziel)

Paul McCartney says change in law over AI could 'rip off' artists

Former Beatles member says government should protect creative workers as consultation on copyright continues Sir Paul McCartney has warned artificial intelligence could "rip off" artists if a proposed overhaul of copyright law goes ahead. The proposals could remove the incentive for writers and artists and result in a "loss of creativity", he told the BBC. The use of copyrighted material to help train AI models is the subject of a newly launched government consultation. McCartney, one of the two surviving members of the Beatles, said: "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off." "The truth is, the money's going somewhere ... Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote Yesterday?" A lack of clarity around whether it is right and fair that copyright material be used to train the models that are powering the latest wave of AI tools has led to debate around the world, with legal cases launched by companies and individuals in the creative industries over what they argue is unlicensed use of their material. In contrast, some publishing organisations and media outlets have signed licensing deals with AI companies to allow them to use their material to train such models. It is not the first time McCartney has raised fears about the threat AI could pose to the arts. In December, he warned AI could "just take over" and joined the actors Julianne Moore, Stephen Fry and Hugh Bonneville in signing a petition, which states the "unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted". The novelist Kate Mosse has backed a parallel campaign for amendments to the data bill that would allow the enforcement of the UK's existing copyright law, meaning creators could negotiate for fair payment when licensing their material. The government said it would use the consultation, which runs until 25 February, to explore key points of the debate, including how to improve trust between the creative and AI sectors, and how creators can license and be remunerated for the use of their material. McCartney appealed to the government to rethink the plans. "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," he said. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." In November 2023, McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr created the song Now And Then using AI technology to separate John Lennon's vocals from a home demo recorded in 1977. The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, said last year: "This government firmly believes that our musicians, writers, artists and other creatives should have the ability to know and control how their content is used by AI firms and be able to seek licensing deals and fair payment. "Achieving this, and ensuring legal certainty, will help our creative and AI sectors grow and innovate together in partnership."

Don't let AI 'rip off' artists, Beatles star McCartney warns UK government

LONDON (Reuters) - Beatles musician Paul McCartney has warned that artificial intelligence could be used to "rip off" artists, urging the British government to make sure upcoming copyright reforms protect its creative industries. Globally the music and film industries are grappling with the legal and ethical implications of AI models that can produce their own output after being trained on popular works, without necessarily paying the creators of the original content. Britain in December proposed a way for artists to license their work to be used in training AI, but also said there should be an exception "to support use at scale of a wide range of material by AI developers where rights have not been reserved." In a BBC interview broadcast on Sunday, McCartney said he was worried only tech giants would benefit unless copyrights were properly protected. "AI is a great thing, but it shouldn't rip creative people off," McCartney said. "Make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them. As simple as that." The government is currently consulting on its reforms to copyright law, saying there was legal uncertainty about how the existing laws are applied in Britain that risked undermining investment and adoption of AI technology. McCartney, who in 2023 used AI to help recreate the voice of late Beatles band member John Lennon from an old cassette recording, said there was a risk that artists could lose out if the changes were not handled properly. "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 and anyone who wants can just rip it off," he said. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere, you know, and it gets on the streaming platforms - somebody's getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't just be some tech giant somewhere." (Reporting by William James; editing by Clelia Oziel)

Elton John warns AI plans would 'threaten' artist earnings as he backs McCartney

Sir Elton John has warned that artificial intelligence will "dilute and threaten young artists' earnings even further" as he backed Sir Paul McCartney's criticism of a proposed overhaul of copyright law. The use of copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models is the subject of a newly launched UK Government consultation, which looks at how artists can license and be remunerated for the use of their material, along with improving trust between the creative and AI sectors. Sir Elton, 77, told The Sunday Times that the "wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists' livelihoods". "This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists' work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music," he added. "This will dilute and threaten young artists' earnings even further. "The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly." The winner of multiple awards, including Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tonys, who has supported young artists, also said it is "harder than ever for new and emerging musicians to make the finances of the industry stack up to sustain a fledgling career, due to challenging financial situations, including the increased costs of touring. "Without thorough and robust copyright protection that allows artists to earn hard-fought earnings from their music, the UK's future place on the world stage as a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy," he added. "It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country's future success in the creative industries depends on it." The Government's consultation includes plans which could allow AI firms to scrape media companies content, unless they specifically opt out. On Sunday, Beatles singer Sir Paul appeared on BBC One's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, where he said: "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. "And anyone who wants can just rip it off." "The truth is, the money's going somewhere... Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote (The Beatles hit) Yesterday?" The 82-year-old pleaded with the Government to change course, saying: "We're the people, you're the Government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job. "So you know, if you're putting through a Bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." In 2023, he released the final Beatles song, Now And Then, which was first recorded by John Lennon, and then remade with technology to include the Liverpool band's fellow stars George Harrison, Sir Paul, and Sir Ringo Starr. Sir Paul has been adamant that it is not "artificially or synthetically created", and just used technology to clean up the track. Harrison died in 2001, and Lennon died in 1980. Artists including Eminem, Drake, The Weeknd, Sting and Oasis have all seen an increase in the number of songs using AI to recreate the work of well-known musicians and bands. Sir Keir Starmer has previously appeared to suggest that AI tech giants should not subsidise British creative workers and industries. When asked about if tech giants should get a free pass on the back of British creatives by MPs, the Prime Minister replied saying: "I don't think they should, I think we need to get the balance right, but I also think we have a huge opportunity. "We are one of the top three in the world in AI at the very point where AI is going to be transformative. "That puts us in a really good position against our competitors around the world, I don't want us to lose that edge." The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has been contacted for comment.

Paul McCartney calls on UK government to protect artists from AI

Legendary musician Paul McCartney is warning against proposed changes to UK copyright law that would allow tech companies to freely train their models on online content unless the copyright holders actively opt out. In excerpts of an interview with the BBC, McCartney said the government needs to do more to protect musicians and other artists. "We're the people, you're the government!" he said. "You're supposed to protect us. That's your job. So if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." McCartney isn't necessarily opposed to the use of AI in creating music -- indeed, he took advantage of the technology last year to clean up an old John Lennon demo and create what McCartney called "the last Beatles record." However, he suggested that AI (or at least AI with a loose approach to copyright) poses an economic threat to artists. "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, and anyone who wants can just rip it off," McCartney said. Adding that "the money's going somewhere," he said the financial rewards for creating a hit song should go to the artist, not just "some tech giant somewhere."

Paul McCartney says he fears AI will rip off artists

LONDON (AP) -- Paul McCartney urged the British government not to make a change to copyright laws that he says could let artificial intelligence companies rip off artists. The government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models unless the creators explicitly opt out. McCartney told the BBC that would make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and undermine Britain's creative industries. "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," the 82-year-old former Beatle said in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. An extract was released Saturday by the BBC. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't be some tech giant somewhere." Britain's center-left Labour Party government says it wants to make the U.K. a world leader in AI. In December, it announced a consultation into how copyright law can "enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training" while also ensuring "AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content." Publishers, artists' organizations and media companies, including The Associated Press, have banded together as the Creative Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections. "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them."

Paul McCartney says he fears AI will rip off artists, urging the British government not to change copyright laws

Paul McCartney urged the British government not to make a change to copyright laws that he says could let artificial intelligence companies rip off artists. The government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models unless the creators explicitly opt-out. McCartney told CBS News partner BBC that would make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and undermine Britain's creative industries. "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," the 82-year-old former Beatle said in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. An extract was released Saturday by the BBC. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't be some tech giant somewhere," he said. Britain's center-left Labour Party government says it wants to make the U.K. a world leader in AI. In December, it announced a consultation into how copyright law can "enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training" while also ensuring "AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content." Publishers, artists' organizations and media companies, including The Associated Press, have banded together as the Creative Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections. "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." In late 2023, the last "new" Beatles song, "Now and Then," was released, 60 years after the onset of Beatlemania. It is the first AI-assisted track to receive a nomination from the Grammy Awards. The release features the voices of all four original Beatles performers, with surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr essentially finishing what was initially an old demo recording by John Lennon. The track draws in many ways on the group's signature style and features an emotional chorus where, together, McCartney and Lennon's voices sing, "I miss you."

Paul McCartney says he fears AI will rip off artists

The government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models unless the creators explicitly opt out. McCartney told the BBC that would make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and undermine Britain's creative industries. "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," the 82-year-old former Beatle said in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. An extract was released Saturday by the BBC. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't be some tech giant somewhere." Britain's center-left Labour Party government says it wants to make the U.K. a world leader in AI. In December, it announced a consultation into how copyright law can "enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training" while also ensuring "AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content." Publishers, artists' organizations and media companies, including The Associated Press, have banded together as the Creative Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections. "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them."

Paul McCartney says he fears AI will rip off artists

The government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models unless the creators explicitly opt out. McCartney told the BBC that would make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and undermine Britain's creative industries. "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," the 82-year-old former Beatle said in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. An extract was released Saturday by the BBC. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't be some tech giant somewhere." Britain's center-left Labour Party government says it wants to make the U.K. a world leader in AI. In December, it announced a consultation into how copyright law can "enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training" while also ensuring "AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content." Publishers, artists' organizations and media companies, including The Associated Press, have banded together as the Creative Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections. "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them."

Paul McCartney warns British government of the risks of AI ripping off artists

Paul McCartney at the GRAMMY Awards in 2015 in Los Angeles.Kevin Mazur / WireImage file Paul McCartney has urged the British government not to make a change to copyright laws that he says could let artificial intelligence companies rip off artists. The British government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models unless the creators explicitly opt out. McCartney told the BBC that would make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and undermine Britain's creative industries. "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," the 82-year-old former Beatle said in an interview to be broadcast Sunday. An extract was released Saturday by the BBC. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't be some tech giant somewhere." Britain's center-left Labour Party government says it wants to make the U.K. a world leader in AI. In December, it announced a consultation into how copyright law can "enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training" while also ensuring "AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content." Publishers, artists' organizations and media companies, including The Associated Press, have banded together as the Creative Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections. "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them."

Elton John Slams U.K. Copyright Changes That Would Let AI 'Ride Roughshod' Over Artists

The Hold Steady's Craig Finn Tries to Make Good on New Song 'People of Substance' Following Paul McCartney's lead, Elton John called on the U.K. government to impose new rules to protect the copyrights of artists and musicians amidst the rise of artificial intelligence. In a new interview with The Times, John expressed concern that the "wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists' livelihoods." Specifically, John backed an amendment to a proposed bill (which will be voted on tomorrow, Jan. 28) that would extend existing copyright protections in the U.K. The amendment is part of an an effort to preempt a possible overhaul of U.K. copyright law that would potentially give generative AI companies greater access to copyrighted works by forcing artists and rights holders to actively "opt out" of having their works used. "This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists' work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music," John said. "This will dilute and threaten young artists' earnings even further. The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly." McCartney similarly shared his concerns and frustrations on the matter, saying these new laws would allow AI to "rip off" creators and specifically hinder younger artists. "You get young guys and girls coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don't own it," McCartney told the BBC. "They don't have anything to do with it, and anyone who wants can just rip it off." John, in his interview, noted that it's already "harder than ever for new and emerging musicians to make the finances of the industry stack up to sustain a fledgling career, due to challenging financial situations, including the increased costs of touring." Undercutting the protections that allow artists to profit off their work would only further exacerbate those issues, he argued. "Without thorough and robust copyright protection that allows artists to earn hard-fought earnings from their music, the UK's future place on the world stage as a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy," John said. "It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country's future success in the creative industries depends on it."

Paul McCartney warns against AI use in music: 'It shouldn't rip creative people off'

Globally, the music and film industries are grappling with the legal and ethical implications of AI models that can produce their own output after being trained on popular works, without necessarily paying the creators of the original content. Britain in December proposed a way for artists to license their work to be used in training AI, but also said there should be an exception "to support use at scale of a wide range of material by AI developers where rights have not been reserved." In a BBC interview broadcast on Sunday, McCartney said he was worried only tech giants would benefit unless copyrights were properly protected. "AI is a great thing, but it shouldn't rip creative people off," McCartney said. "Make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them. As simple as that." The government is currently consulting on its reforms to copyright law, saying there was legal uncertainty about how the existing laws are applied in Britain that risked undermining investment and adoption of AI technology. McCartney, who in 2023 used AI to help recreate the voice of late Beatles band member John Lennon from an old cassette recording, said there was a risk that artists could lose out if the changes were not handled properly. "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 and anyone who wants can just rip it off," he said. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere, you know, and it gets on the streaming platforms -- somebody's getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't just be some tech giant somewhere."

AI could rip off artists, Sir Paul McCartney warns | BreakingNews.ie

Sir Paul McCartney has warned that AI could "rip off" artists if a proposed overhaul of copyright law goes ahead. The proposals could remove the incentive for writers and artists and result in a "loss of creativity", he told the BBC. The use of copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models is the subject of a newly launched Government consultation. Sir Paul, one of the two surviving members of the Beatles, told the broadcaster: "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off." "The truth is, the money's going somewhere... Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote Yesterday?" A lack of clarity around whether it is right and fair that copyright material be used to train the models that are powering the new waves of AI tools has sparked debate around the world, with legal cases launched by firms and individuals in the creative industry over what they argue is unlicensed use of their material. In contrast, some publishing organisations and media outlets have signed licensing deals with AI firms to allow them to use their material to train their models. The Government said it will use the consultation, which will run until February 25, to explore key points of the debate including how to improve trust between the creative and AI sectors, and how creators can license and be remunerated for the use of their material. Appealing to the Government to rethink its plans, the 82-year-old said: "We're the people, you're the Government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." In November 2023, surviving bandmates Sir Paul and Sir Ringo Starr created the song Now And Then using AI technology to separate John Lennon's vocals from a home demo recorded in 1977. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said last year: "This Government firmly believes that our musicians, writers, artists and other creatives should have the ability to know and control how their content is used by AI firms and be able to seek licensing deals and fair payment. "Achieving this, and ensuring legal certainty, will help our creative and AI sectors grow and innovate together in partnership."

Paul McCartney warns proposed AI law will rip off the next generation...

Paul McCartney is warning that proposed changes to British copyright laws that would allow AI developers to use creators' content on the internet will make life miserable for artists trying to make money. The former Beatles star said the laws will undoubtedly rip off the new generation of musicians. "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. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," the singer-songwriter told the BBC in an interview that is airing tomorrow. The British government is toying with the idea of letting tech firms use copyrighted material to assist in the training of AI models -- allowing for copyright infringement if used for AI programs. Artists would be able to opt out, but opponents are saying it's impossible for them to notify the thousands of AI service providers that exist as well as monitor if their work is being used on the internet without permission. McCartney, 82, who has a net worth of $1.2 billion, firmly believes the artists themselves should be earning the revenue their work gains -- not tech companies. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it," he told the outlet. "It shouldn't just be some tech giant somewhere." The Liverpool native, who was 18 when The Beatles formed, noted that the band was able to make ends meet financially, which allowed them to continue performing. "When we were kids in Liverpool, we found a job that we loved, but it also paid the bills," he said. When asked what his message would be to the politicians trying to push the law, he said, "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job." He also warned that there will be less people in the creative industry who "can enhance the world with wonderful art" if the law passes. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them," he said.

Sir Paul McCartney: Don't let AI rip off musicians

"So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." The government is currently consulting on proposals that would allow AI companies to use material that is available online without respecting copyright if they are using it for text or data mining. Generative AI programmes mine, or learn, from vast amounts of data like text, images, or music online to generate new content which feels like it has been made by a human. The proposals would give artists or creators a so called "rights reservation" - the ability to opt out. But critics of the plan believe it is not possible for an individual writer or artist to notify thousands of different AI service providers that they do not want their content used in that way, or to monitor what has happened to their work across the whole internet. An alternative proposal for artists to opt in to give their permission for their content to be used will be put forward in the House of Lords by cross bench peer Baroness Kidron this week. Tom Kiehl, chief executive of music industry body UK Music, said: "Government plans to change copyright law to make it easier for AI firms to use the music of artists, composers and music companies without their permission put the music industry at a huge risk. "It would be a wild punt against the creative sector that is already contributing over £120bn to the economy and be counterproductive to the government's own growth ambitions. "There is no evidence that creatives can effectively 'opt out' of their work from being trained by AI systems and so this apparent concession does not provide any reassurance to those that work in music."

Former Beatle Paul McCartney Says AI Could 'Rip Off' Future Generations of Musicians

Paul McCartney has said that AI could "rip off" future generations of musicians, the BBC reports. McCartney is one of two surviving members of The Beatles, who sold over 1 billion records and were one of the most popular musical groups of all time. "You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don't own it," he said on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. "They don't have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote 'Yesterday?'," a reference to one of The Beatles hit songs. The UK government is currently consulting on a scheme that would allow AI companies to scrape content from publishers and artists to train their models unless they "opt-out." The proposal has already seen significant opposition from some members of the UK creative industries, who have dubbed it unfair. McCartney was clear about his thoughts on the topic, saying: "We're the people, you're the government! You're supposed to protect us. That's your job." He added the government needs to "protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." Many AI-music creation tools have already been hit by lawsuits alleging that the tools deprived artists of their income. In June 2024, the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) sued two AI music generation companies, Suno and Udio, for using unlicensed music created by artists like The Beach Boys and Abba to create songs. It's not just high-profile figures within the music industry who are warning about the future impact of AI on artists; plenty of important figures in film and TV, publishing, and journalism are taking legal action to stop AI from depriving creators of their money. In March, three novelists launched a class-action lawsuit aimed at Nvidia over its NeMo Megatron AI model. The authors argued that Nvidia used their work to train its model and has therefore violated their books' copyright protections. Meanwhile, The New York Times is still engaged in a lawsuit against ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which accuses it of copyright infringement by using its materials to train its large language model. But The Beatles themselves haven't been above using AI to create music; in 2023 they used AI software to take deceased Beatle John Lennon's vocals from a low-quality demo and revamped it into a fully fledged new track.

Paul McCartney Calls on British Government to 'Protect' Artists From AI in New Interview

Nelly Defends Performing at Trump Inauguration: 'I Respect the Office' Paul McCartney called on the British government to protect artists in the face of a new copyright law that could allow for AI to "rip off" creators. Speaking to the BBC, McCartney warned of the bill that would let tech firms train their AI models on copyrighted works -- including music -- unless the artists explicitly opted out. The Beatles legend said the change, if approved, could severely impact young artists' career. "You get young guys and 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 told the BBC. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody's getting [the money], and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't just be some tech giant somewhere. Somebody's getting paid. Why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote 'Yesterday'?" In December, artists, publishers, media companies and more banded together to form the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, which aims to keep the current copyright protections in place despite the U.K.'s continued courtship of AI technology (and not the kind of AI that McCartney himself employed on the Beatles' "Now and Then"). "We're the people, you're the government. You're supposed to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said to lawmakers in the interview. "So if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not gonna have them. If there's such a thing as a government, it's their responsibility -- I would think -- to protect young people to try and enhance that whole thing so it works. So that these people have got job and can enhance the world with wonderful art." Tom Kiehl, chief executive of music industry body UK Music, told the BBC, "Government plans to change copyright law to make it easier for AI firms to use the music of artists, composers and music companies without their permission put the music industry at a huge risk."