Several of the UK’s top artists came together at last weekend’s BRIT Awards to protest the government’s proposed changes to AI and copyright laws. Artists including Myles Smith, Lola Young, FLO, The Last Dinner Party, and Rachel Chinouriri joined a growing movement urging the UK government to safeguard copyright protections. They stood alongside music icons such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Sam Fender, and Kate Bush in calling for stronger support for creators’ rights.
Artists like Paloma Faith have spoken out against Artificial Intelligence on red carpet:
@brits @paloma faith flying the flag for true creativity #BRITs #MakeItFair ♬ original sound – BRITs
The Don’t Let AI Steal Our Music campaign, launched by BPI, builds on the earlier Make It Fair initiative, which gained widespread support across the UK’s creative industries when it debuted in the media on February 25. The movement also follows the release of Is This What We Want?, a silent album featuring the backing of over 1,000 musicians as a form of protest against the government’s proposals.
In a collective effort artists including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, and Cat Stevens, released the silent album which features recordings of empty studios and performance spaces, symbolizing the potential impact on artists’ livelihoods. In addition, a new website, dontletaistealourmusic.com, has been launched to provide more details on the campaign and its objectives.
The UK government is considering changes to copyright law that would allow global AI companies to train generative AI models using the country’s music, books, films, and other creative works—without requiring permission or compensation for creators and rights-holders.
While the proposals suggest that creators could theoretically ‘opt out’ of having their work used for AI training, experiences in other markets have shown that such opt-out systems are ineffective and fail to prevent misuse or unauthorised exploitation. Copyright law exists to protect original works of authorship, ensuring they cannot be copied, distributed, or performed without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.
At the @BRITs on Saturday, students of @TheBRITSchool stood with the Make It Fair campaign and the silent album ‘Is This What We Want?’.
They send a clear message to the UK Government: don’t let AI steal our music.
Find out more here: https://t.co/6q76tnoS8v pic.twitter.com/Unrdg6SLQi
— BPI (@bpi_music) March 4, 2025
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of the BPI, said: “This campaign’s message to the Government is clear: don’t let AI steal our music. Thousands of Britain’s most beloved artists and creators have already spoken out against the proposed weakening of copyright law, which would have a devastating impact on the UK’s world-leading creative industries. We greatly value the artists and students who added their powerful voices to the campaign over the weekend. They represent the incredible human creativity that exists all across the UK and is so vital to protect.”
In response to the backlash, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of the creative industries and assured that no final decision has been made regarding the copyright reforms. He stated that the consultation period has concluded, and the feedback will be reviewed to balance the interests of AI advancement and creator rights
