The Pop Corporation

A new album comprised of silent music has been released to protest against changes in copyright law, regarding AI. There’s some big hitters on it too, including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Damon Albarn, as well as Billy Ocean, Tori Amos, Hans Zimmer, and loads more.

You can’t hear them of course, but still. Also – for a brief joke, it’d be funny if John Cage sued them for copyright infringement for ‘4 33’.

Anyway, the album is called ‘Is This What We Want?’, and in a statement, Kate Bush says: “In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?”

This came about after the UK government planned changes with copyright, basically making it easier for AI platforms to use copyrighted material to work, without license. Now, if you’re thinking that these tracks are just silent, that’s not quite the case.

The recordings were made in empty studios and rooms, and the tracklist itself spells out “the British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.” It is on Spotify now, if you’re curious.

All profits from the album will be donated to charity Help Musicians.