Musicians and music businesses have long been at the forefront of new technology. Artists, songwriters and music businesses are beginning to embrace the possibilities that artificial intelligence presents for music creation and enjoyment. AI tools can be and are being used to assist the whole creative workflow from songwriting/composition, music production and engineering and enjoyment of music through streaming, playlists and live performance.
A recent survey and study commissioned by APRA AMCOS across Australia and New Zealand revealed that songwriters and composers in Australasia are early adopters of AI, with 38% of the over 4,200 APRA AMCOS members surveyed having used AI in their work with music and creation in general, and 54% agreeing that AI can support the human creative process. Global music companies that operate in New Zealand have also embraced the responsible use of AI via partnerships and collaborations with AI companies and artists.
However artists and rights holders should retain the choice to decide if they want to use AI tools, or want to have their work used by AI companies.
Generative AI, when not used responsibly, presents substantial risk to the livelihood and mana of artists and to the economic viability of the Aotearoa music industry as a whole. The risks include AI companies training their models using music without permission and in breach of New Zealand copyright laws, and creating vocal clones that impersonate and appropriate artists’ voice, image and likeness.
We are calling on government to require AI companies to act responsibly – and specifically to retain and disclose records of any copyright music that has been used to train their models. If records are made available, this will support artists and rights holders to build partnerships if they choose to do so and take enforcement action if appropriate.
Australia has taken proactive action to regulate AI – with regulatory guardrails recently recommended by a Senate Committee.
It is crucial that New Zealand government requires AI companies to act responsibly and respect the rights of music creators, and we are looking forward to engaging with government in 2025 as it consults on an AI framework for New Zealand.