Artists and Songwriters Won’t Be Side-Lined in the AI Gold Rush

June 23

	A growing coalition of managers, songwriters and artist organisations has drawn a clear line in the sand: no more quiet opt-ins, no more take-it-or-leave-it AI clauses, and no more treating creators as passive catalogue assets. Across the global music industry, labels and publishers are racing to strike AI deals that could reshape how music is made, licensed and monetised for decades. Yet the very people whose voices, performances, likenesses and creative identities give those deals their value are often the last to be consulted — if they are consulted at all. Many artists and songwriters already under contract are receiving letters informing them they will be automatically opted into AI uses, with little real choice. New signings are finding AI rights clauses baked into standard agreements as a non-negotiable condition. The result is a dangerous power imbalance: creators are asked to surrender valuable rights without clear information, meaningful control, or guaranteed fair pay. The message from the coalition is unambiguous. Artists and songwriters remain the primary holders of many of the rights at stake — moral rights, neighbouring rights, image and personality rights. These are not simply label or publisher assets to be licensed away without explicit authority and consent. The groups are calling on record companies, publishers, AI firms, platforms and policymakers to respect three non-negotiable principles: Consent & Control Artists and songwriters must give active, specific consent before their work, voice, performance, likeness or creative identity can be used with AI. Consent cannot be buried in catch-all contract language, locked in perpetuity, or forced through default opt-ins. Saying no must never carry the threat of punishment. Fair Compensation Those who choose to participate must share meaningfully in the value created. It must be crystal clear what percentage of revenue goes to the creator, the label and the AI company. Creators are not a free resource. Clarity & Transparency Every request must be purpose-specific. Artists, songwriters and their managers need timely, understandable information covering exactly which rights are involved, what uses are allowed, what safeguards exist, how long the permission lasts, and how consent can be withdrawn. The coalition is demanding a public commitment from every company entering AI music deals: No default opt-ins No forced AI clauses No use of artists’ work, voice, performance, likeness or creative identity without meaningful consent, fair remuneration and full transparency As policymakers around the world review copyright rules in the face of AI, the protection of creators’ rights, voices and livelihoods is not up for negotiation. The structures being built today will define the music ecosystem for years to come. The future of music must be shaped with artists and songwriters — not imposed on them. Signatories include European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) Music Artists Coalition (USA) SONA – Songwriters of North America NITO – National Independent Talent Organisation International Artists Organisation Artists Rights Alliance Black Music Action Coalition Association of Artist Managers (Australia) Music Managers Forum Aotearoa Music Managers Forum Canada Featured Artists Coalition (UK) The Ivors Academy And numerous national manager organisations across Europe and beyond. Source: https://composeralliance.org/