More than 400 UK musicians sign an open letter demanding fair rules in the AI era
In a powerful show of unity, over 400 of the UK’s most celebrated musicians – including Elton John, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Florence Welch and Kate Bush – have signed a letter urging the British government to take action against the unchecked use of their work by artificial intelligence systems.
The open letter, addressed directly to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calls for legal safeguards to protect creators’ rights in the face of AI technologies that train on vast datasets, often without the artists’ knowledge or consent.
Artists aren’t against progress – just unregulated exploitation
The movement, backed by the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, centers around the proposed Data (Use and Access) Bill. If passed, this legislation would require AI developers to disclose when they use copyrighted material and obtain proper licenses before training models on that content. The bill, championed by Baroness Beeban Kidron, is scheduled for debate in the House of Lords on May 12.
In their letter, the artists make it clear: “We’re not anti-technology. Creativity and innovation have always gone hand in hand. But innovation must not come at the cost of the very artists whose work makes that innovation possible.”
McCartney: “If creators aren’t protected, there won’t be any left”
Paul McCartney, who has long spoken out on artist rights, underscored the urgency: “The government’s job is to protect people – especially those creating the cultural heartbeat of our time. Without safeguards, we risk losing a whole generation of creators.”
The call to action has gained support beyond the music world, with publishers, businesses and even some AI developers agreeing that transparency and ethics must define the path forward.
As AI continues to reshape how art is produced, shared and consumed, this letter represents a crucial moment in the cultural conversation: one where artists ask not to be erased in the name of progress, but to be respected within it.
