A new survey by PRS for Music has found that there are mounting concerns around generative AI in music.
Building on the organisation’s August 2023 survey on the subject, this new survey is based on responses that were provided by over 2630 PRS members.
Four in five (79%) respondents said they are worried about the competition posed by AI-generated music, up five percentage points from 2023. 76% of respondents agreed that AI has the potential to negatively affect creators’ livelihoods — a 7% increase from the last survey.
At the same time, understanding of AI has increased among creators. Over 70% of the respondents to this latest survey said they now have a greater understanding about how AI in music creation works — an increase of 19 percentage points from 2023.
There was also clear support for steps being established to ensure a fairer AI ecosystem. 93% believe, for example, that creators deserve to be compensated if their music is used for AI-generated content (a rise of 1% on 2023).
92% said that AI tools should be transparent about how they generate AI music, while more than nine in ten respondents said they want to be able to decide if their music can be used to train AI tools (up 7%).
Speaking about the results of the survey, John Mottram, Chief Strategy Officer at PRS for Music, said: ‘It is clear why creators are concerned. Tech firms train models on copyright works without permission or payment building commercial services designed to compete with or replace the human creators.
'Music creators are already using AI to find new ways to enhance their creativity, but it is up to policymakers to make sure that livelihoods are protected, not diminished to cater to big tech.
‘We will continue to champion the value of songwriters’ and composers’ works and advocate for a future where innovation and artistry can thrive together.’
The creative industries are hugely important to the UK economy, contributing over £120bn each year. PRS is continuing to urge policymakers to prioritise a robust regulatory framework for AI which safeguards copyright protections, meaning creators can earn a living from their work and reinvest in future creative endeavours.
Following the 2023 AI survey, the PRS Members’ Council developed a set of guiding principles on AI to define how PRS engages with the AI sector and policymakers. Those principles are:
- Protection of human creativity: Music is an expression of human emotion, a record of our shared lived experience. Songwriters and composers are at the core of all great music. PRS for Music is committed to championing human creativity, including by ensuring creators are paid and credited whenever and wherever their works are used.
- Choice: Authorisation is the central pillar of copyright and must be protected. Rightsholders should always have the right to decide whether their works are used, including by AI systems. Music is not data; it should not be mined for others’ benefit.
- Transparency: Auditability and transparency must be enshrined in the development of all AI systems. AI-generated content should be clearly labelled as such, for everyone to see.
- Global cooperation: PRS for Music will work with its partners around the world to secure an enforceable regulatory framework for AI companies, one which holds them accountable for their actions.
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