Elton John backs Paul McCartney over proposed AI copyright law: “This will dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings”

Elton John has backed Paul McCartney over his criticism towards AI in proposed changes to copyright law.

The UK government is currently considering altering the copyright law to allow AI developers use of creators’ content on the internet if they are data or text mining to help develop their models.

The proposals would give artists or creators a “rights reservation” to opt out, but has been criticised by many who believe it would be impossible for an individual to notify thousands of different AI service providers, or to monitor what has happened to their work across the entire internet.

Speaking in an an interview on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, earlier today (January 26) the former Beatle spoke out against the proposed changes, saying they could remove the monetary incentive for artists to create work and cause a “loss of creativity”

He added: “You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it, and they don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off.”

He continued: “We’re the people, you’re the government! You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job. So you know, if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.”

In a new interview with the Sunday Times, John echoed his comments. “The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods,” he said.

John continued: “This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists’ work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music. This will dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings even further. The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly.”

He went on to say that it is “harder than ever for new and emerging musicians to make the finances of the industry stack up to sustain a fledgling career, due to challenging financial situations, including the increased costs of touring”.

John added: “Without thorough and robust copyright protection that allows artists to earn hard-fought earnings from their music, the UK’s future place on the world stage as a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy.

“It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country’s future success in the creative industries depends on it.”

The Beatles previously used the technology to restore John Lennon‘s vocals on ‘Now And Then’ the band’s “final” song released in 2023. The AI used on the track was Analytic, rather than Generative, meaning it wasn’t used to create something entirely new but rather to aid in the restoration of previously existing material.

The issue of AI being used in music has been a growing topic of discussion in recent times. Last year, Billie Eilish, The Cure‘s Robert Smith, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj were named as just a handful of artists who had signed an open letter warning against the “predatory” use of AI in music.

Other musicians who signed the document included Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Kim Petras, R.E.M., Jon Bon Jovi, Mumford & Sons, Imagine Dragons, d4vd, Jon Batiste, Finneas, Fletcher, Pearl Jam, J Balvin, Jonas Brothers, Noah Kahan, Norah Jones, Yard Act, The Last Dinner Party, Zayn Malik, Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow, Sigrid, the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra, BTS‘ label HYBE and others.

The annual market for generative AI is currently £2.5billion, which is predicted to rise to £52.8billion by 2028.