From left to right: Charlene Hegarty, Regional MU Officer for Northern Ireland, Sian Mulholland MLA and Caroline Sewell, MU Regional Organiser for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Earlier this month, Caroline Sewell, Regional Organiser for Scotland and Northern Ireland and Charlene Hegarty, Regional Officer for Northern Ireland met with Sian Mulholland MLA and Caoimhe Archibald, Minister for the Economy, at Stormont.
During the meeting they explored the potential impacts of generative AI on the music industry, the broader creative sector, and its implications for musicians in Northern Ireland.
Copyright law should be strengthened
The MU was able to discuss the risks and opportunities posed by AI, as well as the added risks to NI members due to geographical barriers and sustained underfunding in the culture sector.
Alongside our fellow music creator representatives from the Council of Music Makers (CMM), the MU’s position is to oppose the exception and rights reservation system, and request that copyright be strengthened with the introduction of a new AI training right in UK copyright law.
Research by CISAC shows that 24% of music creators’ pay is at risk from AI music over the next five years if legal frameworks aren’t updated to better protect creators’ rights.
The ability to stop your music being used to train AI systems should be a right for individual creators - not just record labels and publishers 👇— Musicians' Union (MU) (@wearethemu.bsky.social) Dec 17, 2024 at 12:42
Learn more about the MU’s position on generative AI and copyright laws.