Paul McCartney Calls on UK Government to Protect Artists from AI

Legendary musician Paul McCartney is warning against proposed changes to UK copyright law that would allow tech companies to freely train their models on online content unless the copyright holders actively opt out.

McCartney’s Plea to the Government

In excerpts of an interview with the BBC, McCartney urged the government to take action to safeguard the rights of creators.
“We’re the people, you’re the government!” he said. “You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job. So if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.”

Concerns About AI and Its Impact

While McCartney clarified that he is not entirely against the use of AI in music creation—highlighting his own use of AI last year to restore an old John Lennon demo—he expressed concerns about the economic harm AI could bring to artists. He noted that young creators risk losing ownership of their work as AI tools make it easier for others to exploit content without proper compensation. McCartney argued that the financial rewards for creating a hit song should belong to the artist, not “some tech giant somewhere,” adding, “The money’s going somewhere, and it should support those who create the music.”