Photo Credit: Gabriel Gurrola
More musicians than ever say they are worried about AI-generated content competing with human-created music in the latest survey from PRS for Music.
Two years after British music copyright collective PRS for Music previously surveyed music creators on their thoughts about artificial intelligence, concern levels have only increased. Four in five (79%) musicians agreed that they are worried about AI-generated music competing with human-created music—a 5% increase compared to 2023.
The numbers indicate that greater understanding of artificial intelligence has only led to greater concern, as nearly 80% of creators now understand how AI music creation works. That’s an increase of 19% since 2023’s survey.
Meanwhile, about three-quarters (76%) agree that AI has the potential to negatively affect their livelihoods, which is approximately 7% more than before. The vast majority (92%) argue that AI tools should be transparent about how they generate AI music (and where they source their training material).
“It is clear why creators are concerned. Tech firms train models on copyright works without permission or payment, building commercial services designed to compete with or replace the human creators,” said John Mottram, Chief Strategy Officer at PRS for Music.
PRS for Music points out that the creative industries contribute over £120 billion ($165 billion) to the UK economy each year. The collective urges policymakers to prioritize a sustainable regulatory framework for AI to safeguard IP so that creators can earn a living from their work and reinvest in future creative endeavors.
“Music creators are already using AI to find new ways to enhance their creativity, but it is up to policymakers to make sure that livelihoods are protected, not diminished to cater to big tech,” Mottram added. “We will continue to champion the value of songwriters’ and composers’ works and advocate for a future where innovation and artistry can thrive together.”
A world-leading music collective management organization representing the rights of over 180,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers, PRS for Music has advocated for and protected the rights of the music creator community for more than 110 years. In 2024, PRS for Music paid out £1.02 billion ($1.4 billion) in royalties and a record £1.15 billion ($1.58 billion) in revenue.
