The legendary British musician Paul McCartney is set to release a silent track in December, coinciding with the reissue of an album also silent, as a protest against a proposed bill on artificial intelligence that undermines copyright protections.
McCartney’s track, titled “(Bonus Track)”, his first in five years, is a recording from an “empty studio”, featuring a succession of noises and tape clicks, lasting two minutes and 45 seconds.
This initiative coincides with the relaunch of the silent album “Is This What We Want” featuring artists like Hans Zimmer and Kate Bush.
Over a thousand artists, including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, Jamiroquai, and Max Richter, collaborated on this silent album, scheduled for release in February 2025, urging the British government to “not legalize the plundering of music for the benefit of AI companies”.
“The album features recordings from empty studios and concert halls, illustrating the impact we believe the government’s proposals would have on musicians’ livelihoods,” they stated.
Only a thousand vinyl copies will be released, they added.
The former Beatle, aged 83, had previously signed, along with 400 other artists including Elton John, Coldplay, and Dua Lipa, an open letter urging the Government to protect the British music industry.
The Labour government is pushing for a bill, expected to be introduced in 2026, that would create an exception to copyright law to facilitate the use of creative content for training AI models.
These tech companies would no longer need to obtain authors’ permission or pay them, a measure that has irked the music industry.
According to a survey of artists and producers conducted by UK Music, published last Wednesday, two in three respondents believe AI poses a threat to their careers.
More than nine out of ten people want their image and voice protected and also demand compensation from AI companies using their creations.
