London: A new album titled “Is This What We Want?” features over 1,000 musicians and the sound of silence, created to protest proposed changes to British artificial intelligence (AI) laws that artists fear will strip them of their creative control.

With contributions from artists such as Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Cat Stevens, and Damon Albarn, the album was released on Tuesday in response to the UK government's consultation on whether to allow tech firms to use copyrighted material to train AI models unless the creators explicitly opt out.

Critics argue that the proposal will make it more difficult for artists to retain control over their work and will harm Britain’s creative industries. High-profile figures like Elton John and Paul McCartney have already voiced their opposition to the plan.

The protest album features recordings of empty studios and performance spaces, symbolising the feared impact on creative venues if the proposal goes ahead. The titles of the album’s 12 tracks spell out: “The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.”

Profits from the album will be donated to the musicians' charity Help Musicians.

“The government's proposal would hand the life's work of the country's musicians to AI companies, for free, letting those companies exploit musicians' work to outcompete them,” said composer and AI developer Ed Newton-Rex, who organised the album.

“It is a plan that would not only be disastrous for musicians, but that is totally unnecessary,” Newton-Rex continued. “The UK can be leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus.”

The UK’s centre-left Labour Party government has expressed a desire to make the UK a world leader in AI. In December, the government announced a consultation on how copyright law can “enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training,” while also ensuring “AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content.” The consultation closed on Tuesday.

Publishers, artists' organisations, and media companies, including The Associated Press, have joined forces as part of the Creative Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections.

Several UK newspapers ran wraparounds on their front pages on Tuesday, criticising the government's consultation and calling for action with the slogan: “Let's protect the creative industries - it's only fair.”