Most European songwriters fear artificial intelligence will harm their ability to earn a living, new report says

To judge from the results of a report commissioned by GEMA and SACEM, the specter of artificial intelligence (AI) is haunting Europe.

A full 35% of members of the respective German and French collecting societies surveyed said they had used some kind of AI technology in their music work, according to Goldmedia report shared at a press conference on Tuesday (January 30) — but 71% feared technology would make it harder for them to earn a living. That means some creators who use the technology fear it, too.

The report, which included expert interviews as well as an online survey, valued the market for genetic AI music applications at $300 million last year – 8% of the total market for genetic AI. By 2028, however, this market could be worth $3.1 billion. In the same year, 27% of creators' revenue – or $950 million – would be at risk, largely due to AI-generated music replacing human-generated music.

Although many of us think of the music industry as a business where fans deliberately choose what to listen to – either by streaming or by purchasing music – record companies rake in considerable revenue from music used in movies and TV shows, advertising, and in restaurants and shops. So even if genetic AI isn't advanced enough to write a pop song, it could cost the music business money – and creators some or even their entire livelihoods.

“So far,” the report points out, “there is no remuneration system that closes the economic gap created by artificial intelligence for creators.” Although some superstars are trying to license their voice rights, there is a lack of legal clarity in many jurisdictions about the conditions under which a genetic AI can use copyrighted material for educational purposes. (In the United States, this is a question of fair use, a legal doctrine that does not exist in the same form in France or Germany.) Assuming that music used to train an AI should be licensed, however, raises other questions, such as how often and how it will be paid.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of songwriters want credit and transparency: 95% want AI companies to disclose which copyrighted works they used for educational purposes, and 89% want companies to disclose which works are created by artificial intelligence. Additionally, 90% believe permission should be sought before their work is used for educational purposes, and the same amount want to benefit financially. A full 90% want policymakers to pay more attention to AI and copyright issues.

The report further analyzes how the interviewed creators feel about the use of artificial intelligence. In addition to the 35% who use the technology, 13% are potential users, 26% would prefer not to use it and 19% would refuse. Of those already using the technology, 54% work in electronic music, 53% work in 'urban/rap', 52% in music advertising, 47% in 'music library' and 46% for the “audio-visual industry”.

These statistics highlight that AI is not a technology coming to music – it's here now. That means policymakers who want to regulate this technology need to act soon.

The report also shows that smart regulation could resolve the debate between the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. Creators are clearly using it productively, but more still fear it: 64% believe the risks outweigh the opportunities, while just 11% believe the opposite. This is a familiar pattern with the music industry, for which technologies are both risky and promising. Maybe AI will end up being both.