Over 1,000 prominent musicians are protesting proposed UK AI copyright laws by releasing a completely silent album called "Is This What We Want?" on February 25. The album features high-profile artists including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, and members of Radiohead.

The protest targets new government proposals that would allow AI companies to use copyrighted material available online for data mining without obtaining licenses, unless creators explicitly opt out. Artists argue this "opt-out" system is impractical, as it would require creators to individually notify thousands of AI providers not to use their work.

The album's track listing spells out the message: "The British Government Must Not Legalise Music Theft To Benefit AI Companies." All profits will be donated to Help Musicians charity.

While the UK government claims these changes will provide legal certainty and "real control" for creators, project organizer Ed Newton-Rex calls the proposals "disastrous for musicians" and "completely unnecessary." Kate Bush emphasized this concern, asking, "In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?"

The silent album protest highlights growing tensions between AI development and artists' rights, as creators struggle to protect their intellectual property in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.

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