Paul McCartney is the latest big-name artist to sound the alarm about AI’s growing impact on creative industries. In a recent statement, the Beatles legend warned that proposed UK copyright changes could let AI companies freely use musicians’ work without permission, “We’re the people, you’re the government- you’re supposed to protect us.”
And he’s not alone—Elton John has also spoken out against these changes, arguing that they could strip artists of their rights. McCartney’s concerns hit at the heart of an ongoing debate: is AI a tool for creativity or a shortcut for companies to exploit artists?
McCartnety went on to share that he was worried that young musicians will see their songs repurposed by AI without getting credit or compensation, saying, “You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it, and they don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off.”
Ongoing Issue
This fight isn’t new—writers and visual artists have already been battling AI scraping their work without consent. Creators of all stripes are pushing back. Writers were among the first to take a stand, arguing that AI-generated content based on their work threatens their livelihoods. Now, with musicians like McCartney and John joining the movement, the demand for fair protections is growing stronger.
And it’s not just music. Actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Nick Cage have beem raising concerns about their likeness being used without permission and how AI is creeping into Hollywood. With fast moving advancements, AI can now replicate voices, faces, and performances, raising big questions about who owns an artist’s legacy. Just like musicians, actors are worried about being replaced by AI versions of themselves.
McCartney’s warning comes at a critical time. The UK government is considering copyright changes that could allow AI companies to use copyrighted work unless artists opt out. The problem? Opting out puts the burden on artists to constantly defend their work—something we’re already seeing in publishing, where AI is trained on copyrighted books without permission or payment to authors.
As this conversation heats up, one thing is clear: musicians, writers, and actors all face the same fight. The challenge now is making sure AI is used as a creative tool—not a way for big tech companies to cash in on other people’s work. McCartney’s call to action is another reminder that protecting human creativity needs to be a priority.
An avid book reader and proud library card holder, Angela is new to the world of e-Readers. She has a background in education, emergency response, fitness, loves to be in nature, traveling and exploring. With an honours science degree in anthropology, Angela also studied writing after graduation. She has contributed work to The London Free Press, The Gazette, The Londoner, Best Version Media, Lifeliner, and Citymedia.ca.
