30.01.2025: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has welcomed a House of Lords’ vote which backed music creators over proposed Government changes to copyright rules. 

New Government proposals would pave the way for Artificial Intelligence firms to train their AI models on copyrighted work without paying or seeking permission from music creators.

However, Peers in the House of Lords voted by 145 to 126 in favour of a package of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill that are aimed at strengthening copyright protections when it comes to AI companies using the work of human creators.

The vote on Tuesday marked a defeat for the Government and an important victory for UK Music and campaigners fighting to ensure music creators are not “ripped off” by AI firms – something Sir Paul McCartney warned about earlier this month.

Crossbench Peer Baroness Kidron, who proposed the amendments, said they would help enforce existing property rights by improving transparency and laying out a redress procedure.

She said: “It surely goes without saying that our United Kingdom copyright law has to counter the increasing theft of intellectual property by artificial intelligence companies,”

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: 

“UK Music is delighted to see such strong support from the House of Lords in defence of human creativity. Artificial Intelligence has benefits to sectors like music, yet more transparency from AI firms relating to the music they are training on is needed.

“It is now incumbent on the Government to ensure these much-needed amendments are retained in the House of Commons and any steps to weaken copyright law in favour of AI are reconsidered.”