Action Required: Stop the spin, put music-makers first in AI deals

07 November 2025 - Press release

Music industry must guarantee music-maker consent, control and compensation

 

The Council Of Music Makers is calling out the music industry as it starts signing major AI deals: now is the moment to genuinely put human creators at the centre of the AI opportunity. 

Universal Music says its deal with Udio demonstrates “our commitment to do what’s right by our artists and songwriters” - now is the moment to actually do right by artists and songwriters. 

Spotify claims it is putting “artists first” in AI - now is the moment for digital platforms and their rightsholder partners in the music industry to actually put music-makers first. 

No more misleading rhetoric, no more deceitful buzzwords - now is the moment for an industry wide standard guaranteeing music-maker consent, control and compensation.

 

The three non-negotiables that platforms and rightsholders must respect and deliver:

1. Explicit Consent: Music-makers must grant explicit consent before their recordings and songs are included in any AI licensing deal. Consent must be opt-in, not opt-out.
2. Full Control: Music-makers must have full control over how their music is used in AI - on the input when models are trained and on the output when music is generated.
3. Fair Compensation: All music-makers must be fairly compensated from all AI income, including lump sum payments, equity and legal settlements. All revenue-sharing structures must be clearly and transparently communicated.

A call to action for lawmakers and the industry
CMM calls on rightsholders across the music industry - as well as AI companies and digital platforms - to publicly commit to these three pillars of consent, control and compensation.

CMM urges lawmakers to urgently strengthen copyright and related laws to ensure creator rights are protected in AI, in relation to their performances, productions, lyrics, compositions, voice and likeness. 

The Council Of Music Makers is the UK’s unified voice of human creativity in music, bringing together The Ivors Academy, Featured Artists Coalition, Musicians’ Union, Music Producers Guild and Music Managers Forum. We are campaigning together to ensure that AI truly empowers, not endangers, artists, musicians, songwriters, composers and studio producers.

Now is the moment for the industry to commit to a fair future in music. No more misleading press releases claiming to be ‘artist-centric’ while freezing artists and songwriters out. Because a flourishing AI ecosystem can only be built with creators as willing and compensated partners.

 

MORE INFORMATION 
CMM has published a more detailed white paper setting out the music-maker position on AI, which you can access here: councilmusicmakers.org/musicai-nov2025