Silent Album Released by British Musicians Takes Aim at UK’s Proposed AI Copyright Law

The album ‘Is This What We Want?’ was released by more than 1,000 artists to protest a bid to let AI companies use their work unless they opt out.

Paul McCartney performs at Save Mart Center on April 13, 2016, in Fresno, Calif. Steve Jennings/Getty Images

Over 1,000 musicians—including artists Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn, and Cat Stevens—released a silent album in response to proposed changes surrounding UK copyright law and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Titled “Is This What We Want?,” the album was released on Feb. 25 to protest a policy that would allow AI companies to use copyright-protected work without permission, unless the owner opts out.