Australian music industry organisations have condemned the unauthorised use of their creativity to train large AI models. The members drafted a letter to the government, pleading to uphold their copyright and demand stronger protection against unauthorised use. This move comes as a concern after reports were published about Australian musicians’ work being used without their consent. Here’s a closer look at the Australian music industry’s firm stance to protect their rights against AI technologies.
Australian Music Industry writes a letter to the government
Presenting an open letter to urge the government officials, the Australian musicians, local artists, and organisations collaborated to ensure that creators are protected under the law. The coalition includes APRA AMCOS, ARIA, AMPAL, The Copyright Agency, Australian Music Centre, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office, Australian Publishers Association, Screenrights, Screen Producers Australia, AIR, and others, according to Variety Australia. Previously, The Atlantic reported that the work of millions of local artists from Australia and New Zealand was unconscionably used to train AI models without the knowledge, consent, or payment of the songwriters, composers, and publishers. The work was included in the four ‘giant datasets of songs,’ raising concerns of copyright infringement, accountability, and safety. The local artists, whose work was part of the equation, include Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Sia, Crowded House, Split Enz, INXS, Kylie Minogue, Ché Fu, Lorde, Christine Anu, Nick Cave, Tame Impala, Yothu Yindi, Six60, Marlon Williams, Dan Sultan, and more, per the aforementioned outlet.
About the appeal from musicians of the United Kingdom
Before Australia, the United Kingdom’s music industry shared similar concerns about copyright and AI technologies. In 2025, 400 artists, including Elton John, Dua Lipa, and Sir Paul McCartney, wrote a letter addressed to Sir Keir Starmer. Speaking of the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, the artists stated that failing to protect their rights would be like giving away their work to the tech firms.
