PRS for Music announces AI principles

PRS for Music has announced the fundamental principles that define how it intends to engage with the artificial intelligence (AI) sector and policymakers, emphasising its commitment to preserving and championing the inherent value of human creativity in the face of technological evolution. 

These principles draw from a survey conducted by PRS in August 2023. Notably, 74% of surveyed PRS members expressed concerns around AI-generated music competing with human-made compositions, highlighting the urgency for the industry to provide a solid framework for navigating this paradigm shift. Additionally, 93% believe creators deserve to be compensated if their music is used for AI-generated content, and 89% feel that AI tools should be transparent about how they generate AI works. 

With extraordinary opportunities coexisting with extraordinary challenges, AI has the potential to significantly transform the music industry as we know it. Many music creators and businesses, irrespective of size, are actively integrating AI into their day-to-day, exploring new ways to harness its potential. But as the debate around AI's impact on the creative industries continues, concerns over AI-generated works flooding the market to the detriment of human creators continue to mount. 

The views of songwriters, composers and music publishers are essential to ensuring the intrinsic value of human composition isn’t lost in the race for technological advancement.- Julian Nott, PRS Members’ Council Chair

Speaking on the significance of establishing a robust framework for responsible AI, Julian Nott, PRS Members' Council Chair, said: “Artificial intelligence is growing exponentially, with the potential to radically change the way we live our lives. The views of songwriters, composers and music publishers are essential to ensuring the intrinsic value of human composition isn’t lost in the race for technological advancement.”

It’s within this context that PRS for Music has published its guiding principles, through which it will work to influence global policy decisions on AI to promote and protect human creativity.

1. Protection of human creativity - Music is an expression of human emotion, a record of our shared lived experience. Songwriters and composers are at the core of all great music. PRS for Music is committed to championing human creativity, including by ensuring creators are paid and credited whenever and wherever their works are used. 
2. Choice - Authorisation is the central pillar of copyright and must be protected. Rightsholders should always have the right to decide whether their works are used, including by AI systems. Music is not data; it should not be mined for others’ benefit.
3. Transparency – Auditability and transparency must be enshrined in the development of all AI systems. AI-generated content should be clearly labelled as such, for everyone to see.
4. Global cooperation – PRS for Music will work with its partners around the world to secure an enforceable regulatory framework for AI companies, one which holds them accountable for their actions.

In addition to establishing this framework, PRS for Music will be actively exploring ways in which AI can enhance the services they provide to members. This includes potential opportunities to deliver greater cost-efficiencies, accelerate accurate royalty distributions and utilise predictive modelling to offer new insights to members.

M Magazine recently attended the The Ivors Academy’s latest global summit, AI & Music, find out more about the topics covered.