The Pop Corporation

Honestly, it is pretty depressing to keep writing about artificial intelligence. It’s like some kind of black mold that no-one can ever fully scrub away. Of course, there’s something vaguely exciting about the possibilities of future technologies, but this one isn’t cutting it.

Away from the literal fascism-supporting elements of Big Tech pushing this on us, the environmental woes and the rest, there’s something about the way this mines human creation and vomits it back out without a care, that is philosophically depressing.

Huge companies have been given a free-pass to mine all the music online for whatever reason anyone wants, which musicians and figures from the music biz have been hitting back against, and it seems to have worked… kinda.

There’s new government action on AI and copyright, saying that it will scrap the “deeply damaging” plans to allow tech firms to use copyrighted works without prior permission. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed that the government will no longer be allowing people to use other people’s works, reversing the decision on the proposed Text and Data Mining Exception.

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl says that this is good news, but now everyone needs to “urge the government to go further and rule out resurrecting this plan throughout their period in office.”

“It remains vitally important that the government does not now consider any kind of alternative copyright exception that would negatively impact creators and rightsholders in the music industry. The 220,000 people in our sector, which generates £8billion for the UK economy, should be entitled to work and earn a living without the constant fear that the fruits of their labour could effectively be taken by AI firms without payment or permission.”

He added: “We support the Government’s decision to push the reset button on the debate on AI and copyright. This now gives us the opportunity to engage in a more detailed discussion with the Government about key issues such as digital replicas, transparency, labelling and independent creatives.”

“We will be working with the government and our UK Music members to set a concrete timeline for Government action on this reset and what it means for the developing AI market. Our key priority remains championing the UK music industry and helping it continue to grow and coexist with AI firms in a fair marketplace.”