AI, Music, and the Battle Over Copyright: Who Really Owns Creativity?

With my radio and podcast guest hat on, I was asked to be interviewed for Radio on a story about music and AI.

You can listen to this interview here. And it got me to thinking. In this new world of AI generated EVERYTHING.

As AI-generated music is here, and it’s not going away. Whether you see it as a tool for creativity or a threat to human musicians, the debate over AI’s role in music creation is heating up. And at the center of it all? Copyright.

The UK government’s recent AI copyright proposals have sparked outrage among artists, with some musicians even releasing a silent album to protest the potential loss of control over their work. Meanwhile, campaigns like #MakeItFair argue that AI companies are profiting from human creativity without proper compensation. But here’s the real question: Is the music industry fighting a losing battle against the inevitable future of AI-driven creativity?

AI Isn’t Stealing Music—It’s Learning Like a Human

The outrage over AI “stealing” music stems from a misunderstanding of how AI actually works. AI doesn’t copy and paste entire songs—it learns from vast datasets, just like a human musician absorbing influences from different artists.

Think about it. The Beatles were inspired by Chuck Berry. Oasis borrowed heavily from The Beatles. Music has always been about influence, remixing, and reinvention. AI just does it at scale and speed that humans can’t match. So, is it really fair to say AI is stealing when human musicians have been doing the same thing for centuries?

Of course, the difference is that AI can churn out infinite variations in seconds, flooding the market with music that never had a human hand in its creation. And that’s where things get complicated.

The Music Industry’s Scarcity Model Is Under Threat

For decades, professional musicians benefited from scarcity—there were only so many artists who could make high-quality music, and only so many records that could be produced and distributed. That exclusivity created value.

AI destroys that model. Now, anyone with a laptop can generate high-quality music at the click of a button. No expensive studio. No years of training. Just an AI prompt and an algorithm that understands melody, harmony, and even lyrical themes.

That’s not just a technological shift—it’s an economic one. When something that was once rare becomes abundant, its market value plummets. That’s why musicians are worried. AI isn’t just a creative tool—it’s an existential challenge to the way the industry has functioned for generations.

The Fifth Industrial Revolution and the Democratization of Creativity

AI in music isn’t just about disruption—it’s about democratization. In the same way that social media gave everyone a voice in journalism, AI is giving everyone the ability to create music.

This is part of a broader shift known as the Fifth Industrial Revolution, where human creativity and AI-driven automation are working together rather than in opposition. AI doesn’t have to replace musicians—it can enhance them.

Imagine a world where:

🎵 An independent artist with zero musical training uses AI to create a professional-grade album.

🎵 A songwriter stuck on a chorus gets AI-generated suggestions that spark new ideas.

🎵 An experimental artist fuses AI-generated sounds with live instruments to push musical boundaries.

This isn’t just theoretical. It’s happening right now. And while the industry sees AI as a threat, it’s also an opportunity for new forms of expression.

Copyright Law: An Outdated System for a Digital Age

Here’s where things get tricky. Copyright laws were designed centuries ago, in a world where music was physical—printed sheets, vinyl records, and CDs. The Statute of Anne, the world’s first copyright law, dates back to 1710. And yet, we’re using that same legal framework to regulate AI-generated music in 2025?

The current debate is whether musicians should have to opt out of having their work used to train AI models, or whether AI companies should have to ask for permission first. Musicians argue that their work is being exploited for free, while AI developers claim that preventing training on copyrighted material would stifle innovation.

Both sides have a point, but one thing is clear: the law isn’t keeping up with technology. And when the law lags behind, corporations tend to benefit more than individual creators.

So, Who Wins? AI or Artists?

The truth is, AI isn’t going to replace musicians—it’s going to change what it means to be one. The real winners will be the artists who learn how to work with AI, rather than against it.

The industry needs to adapt rather than resist. That means:
🔹 Updating copyright laws to reflect the realities of AI-driven creativity.
🔹 Creating fair compensation models for musicians whose work is used to train AI.
🔹 Encouraging collaboration between AI and human artists rather than treating AI as an enemy.

Musicians can’t stop AI from learning, just like the printing press couldn’t be uninvented. But they can shape how AI is used in music. That’s the real battle. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that those who embrace new technology—rather than fight it—are the ones who thrive.

Final Thought: AI Won’t Kill Music—It Will Redefine It

Music has always evolved alongside technology. The radio was seen as a threat. So was the synthesizer. And yet, each of these innovations led to more music, not less.

AI is no different. Whether you see it as a threat or a tool, one thing is certain: it’s here to stay. The real question isn’t whether AI will change music. It already has.

The question is: Are we ready for the new era of creativity?

And ironically perhaps this new erar - really wll MAKE IT FAIR...

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If you want to dive deeper into AI, creativity, and the future of work, check out my insights at www.dansodergren.com or follow me on Twitter @dansodergren.