• popes80
• On December 4, 2024

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming music at an overwhelming speed. According to the report CISAC/PMP Strategy AI Study, the emergence of AI in music and audiovisual creation could reduce industry revenues by more than 20% by 2028. This technology, although it promises to improve many aspects of our lives and jobs, poses profound challenges, from the replacement of creative jobs to the lack of fair compensation for artists whose works are used without permission as a basis, inspiration, or machine learning.

In fact, organisations such as CISAC point out that many AI tools are trained on huge volumes of copyrighted works, often without authorisation, leaving creators unprotected and the industry in a situation of uncertainty, as it is something completely unknown.

Playlists without musicians: the end of functional human music?

The study also highlights the growing use of AI-generated songs in functional playlists — those designed for activities like studying or relaxing. This allows platforms like Spotify to save on royalties by using royalty-free music, thereby displacing musicians who previously relied on this income. AI, while efficient, is turning music into a low-cost product, sacrificing the human essence that makes each creation unique.

It is still terrifying to see the slow dehumanization of an industry whose raw material is something purely human: creativity, feeling, culture, inspiration.

Licenses and rights in danger: the ethical and legal dilemma

CISAC stresses the urgency of developing clear legal frameworks to regulate the use of AI in music. According to its president Björn Ulvaeus, the key is to ensure that artists can authorize the use of their works and receive fair compensation. The organization advocates that laws include principles such as transparency in the use of creative data and traceability of works generated by AI.

The report also highlights the need to ban legal exceptions that allow AI systems to exploit protected works under the pretext of “research”. This practice, according to CISAC, not only undermines the rights of creators, but also poses risks to the sustainability of cultural industries.

Although the risks are clear, AI could also act as an ally for musicians, helping them with technical tasks or expanding their creative capabilities; as with any other technological explosion, no one doubts the benefits it will undoubtedly bring, not without risks. Many artists of our Spanish pop lived through the turn of the century and the transformation of the recording industry that the Internet brought with it. The benefits of digital are very clear and artists and bands also take advantage of them, but the radical devaluation of the recording industry, almost to the point of its disappearance, at least as we knew it, is also a fact.

Taking advantage of AI in the professional music field will only be possible if its use is properly regulated. CISAC insists that AI should be considered a tool at the service of human creativity, not a substitute for it. However, CISAC is fighting against an intangible and overwhelming giant in this regard.

The need to protect music

AI is reshaping the music landscape, offering opportunities but also significant threats. To prevent creators from being relegated to the background, it is essential that regulation keeps pace with technology. As Björn Ulvaeus pointed out, protecting artists’ rights is not only an act of justice, but also a guarantee for the future of culture.

According to the CISAC and PMP Strategy report, the widespread use of AI tools in audiovisual production could cause creators to lose up to 21% of their revenue by 2028, representing a loss of €12 billion over the next 5 years and an annual drop of €4.5 billion in the year in question.

Furthermore, AI services are projected to generate exponential revenue growth in the sector, reaching €5 billion by 2028, with a cumulative total of €13 billion over the next five years.

What can we do to prevent musicians from going bankrupt?

As we noted, the increasing use of AI is generating multi-billion dollar revenues for technology service providers, but often at the expense of content creators. Cutting-edge AI models, such as those used to generate music, movies, or any other form of digital art, rely on vast volumes of copyrighted content to train their algorithms. However, these services profit from this content without the consent of artists and without compensating them for the use of their work. This process has given rise to what has been called a new “transfer of value,” where creators’ income is diverted to technology companies, without fair compensation.

In this context, CISAC urgently calls on policymakers to implement a clear legal and regulatory framework to ensure ethical behaviour by AI operators. This framework should include respect for copyright and ensuring that creators receive adequate remuneration for the use of their works. Furthermore, it highlights the need to implement transparency obligations, such as those provided for in the EU AI Act, which require AI operators to inform creators about how their works are used. Only with such transparency will it be possible for creators and management organisations to effectively enforce their rights.

Despite the challenges, rights holders and collecting societies have a long track record of adapting to new technologies. They are currently working on innovative solutions that enable AI providers to access vast repertoires of works ethically and legally, without infringing copyright when training their models. These customised solutions could ensure that tech companies do not misappropriate artists’ work.

The implementation of these solutions is still far from perfect. While some creators could benefit from AI, it is crucial that everyone receives fair compensation for the use of their work. Lack of adequate compensation could seriously affect cultural diversity, diminishing the quality of creative content available on the market. The current situation not only threatens artists’ incomes, but also puts at risk the cultural wealth that human creativity brings to the world.

As AI continues to advance, it is crucial that creators engage in discussions about its use and, in collaboration with technology platforms, ensure that their work is properly recognized and remunerated so that technology is a creative tool and does not become just the executioner of our best artists.