Australia’s music industry has protested the illegal use of its technology to train large-scale AI models. The members wrote a letter to the government, pleading to preserve their ownership and to be strictly protected against illegal use. This has come as a concern after reports were published about the works of Australian musicians being used without their permission. Here’s a detailed look at how the Australian music industry is fighting to protect its rights against AI technology.
The Australian Music Industry has written a letter to the government
In an open letter urging government officials, Australian musicians, local artists, and organizations came together to ensure that producers are protected under the law. The partnership 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 works of millions of rural artists from Australia and New Zealand were used carelessly to train AI models without the knowledge, consent, or payment of songwriters, composers, and publishers. The work was grouped into four categories of “great music”, raising concerns about copyright infringement, accountability, and security. Local artists, whose work was part of the equation, include Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Sia, Crowded House, Split Enz, INXS, Kylie MinogueChé Fu, Lorde, Christine Anu, Nick Cave, Tame Impala, Yothu Yindi, Six60, Marlon Williams, Dan Sultan, and more, per the aforementioned outlet.
About the request of musicians from the United Kingdom
Before Australia, the music industry in the United Kingdom shared the same concerns about copyright technology and AI. In 2025, 400 artists, plus Elton John, Dua Lipaand sir Paul McCartneywrote a letter to Sir Keir Starmer. Speaking about the UK’s role as a power producer, the artists said that failing to protect their rights would be like handing over their work to the tech industry.