Over 1,000 prominent musicians, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, and Annie Lennox, are releasing a silent album titled "Is This What We Want?" to protest proposed UK copyright law changes affecting AI use of creative works.

The protest targets government proposals that would allow AI companies to use copyrighted material for training without obtaining licenses, unless creators explicitly opt out. Musicians argue this "opt-out" approach effectively legalizes unauthorized use of their work.

The album's track listing spells out: "The British Government Must Not Legalise Music Theft To Benefit AI Companies." Notable participants include Billy Ocean, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Bastille's Dan Smith, Jamiroquai, The Clash, Tori Amos, Hans Zimmer, and Riz Ahmed.

Key concerns include:

• Impossibility for individual artists to notify thousands of AI providers about opting out
• Difficulty in monitoring unauthorized use of copyrighted work
• Potential negative impact on the UK music industry

Ed Newton-Rex, the project organizer, describes the government's proposals as "disastrous for musicians" and "unnecessary." All profits from the February 25 release will support Help Musicians charity.

While the UK government claims the changes will provide "real control" and transparency through a new copyright regime, artists remain unconvinced. As Kate Bush stated, "In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?"

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