20.03.2025: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has warned that big tech firms must not be allowed to trump the UK’s £126 billion creative industries, as Technology Secretary Peter Kyle heads to the US to call for greater trans-Atlantic collaboration on AI.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle’s week-long trip to the US will see him pitch the UK as an international hub for AI investment and innovation. A core focus will be on the potential for collaboration between the UK and the US, with the UK Government placing technology at the heart of its Plan for Change.

However, the music industry has come together to call on Government to ensure that creators’ rights are protected from AI firms seeking to train their systems on work stolen from creators without payment or permission.

At present, the Government is proposing controversial changes to existing copyright laws, favouring a complex and impractical system that would force creators to ‘opt-out’ from having their work stolen.

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: “We fully support the ambition to make the UK a global hub for investment and expertise in Artificial Intelligence.

“However, Government’s plans to make unwanted changes to our gold-standard UK copyright law would give tech firms free access to train their AI robots on all the greatest British music from acts ranging from The Beatles and Ed Sheeran to Dua Lipa and Adele – without having to pay for or ask for permission.

“These deeply flawed plans to give a free ride to US tech giants by letting them steal our music would be disastrous for everyone who works in the UK music industry and would trump our creative industries which contribute £126 billion to our economy.

“We must not allow the Government to use our world-leading music and creative industries as a sacrificial lamb in their efforts to cosy up to the tech bosses of Silicon Valley.”

Speaking at Nvidia’s annual conference in San Jose (20th March), Mr Kyle is expected to outline how Government is “rewiring” Britain’s economy to run on AI, describing how AI and advanced technologies can be used to spark economic growth and help solve complex challenges in public services.

He will also highlight how the UK’s AI sector – valued at $92 billion and projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2035 – will position Britain as the second leading AI nation in the democratic world.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President of the United States Donald Trump have both cited AI as being central to the trans-Atlantic relationship. In his visit to the White House last month, the Prime Minister confirmed both countries are working on a new economic deal which will put advanced technologies at its core.

Earlier this month, Tom Kiehl called for an urgent Government rethink after moves to prevent AI firms stealing music creators’ work were blocked in Parliament. His intervention came after digital campaigner Baroness Kidron’s crucial amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill were voted down by MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday (March 11).

Her amendments would have helped enforce existing copyright rules by improving transparency and ensuring AI firms faced action if they flouted the rules.

“It is hugely disappointing that Baroness Kidron’s crucial amendments – which command widespread support across the creative industries – were blocked,” he said.

“These proposed changes would have helped stop AI firms ripping off UK music creators by stealing their music without permission or payment.

“The amendments would also have increased transparency and ensured the enforcement of our existing copyright rules which help prevent creators being exploited by AI firms – something which is already happening on an industrial scale and must be stopped.

“We are urging the Government to rethink these deeply damaging plans and help the creative industries play a key part in growing our economy and boosting the exports of UK music where are such an important part of our soft power across the world.

“We are also urging MPs to reintroduce these amendments at the next stage of the Parliamentary process.”