A coalition of 31 organizations representing artists, songwriters and managers has issued an open letter urging record labels and music publishers not to pressure musicians into artificial intelligence licensing agreements without meaningful consent, fair compensation and full transparency.
Demands and Principles
The letter, coordinated by the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), asserts that the rights required for AI licensing extend beyond song and recording copyrights to include moral, neighbouring, image and personality rights, which remain primarily held by the musicians themselves.
It warns that major labels and publishers are increasingly informing artists and songwriters that they will be opted in to AI-related uses by default, with little genuine choice, while new contracts are being presented with AI rights clauses as a standard condition. The result, the letter states, is a serious imbalance: artists and songwriters are being asked to grant permission without sufficient information, clear terms or guaranteed remuneration.
No default opt-ins. No forced AI clauses. No use of artists’ work, voice, performance, image or creative identity without meaningful consent, fair remuneration and full transparency.
Signatories
Signatories alongside EMMA include the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA), the Music Artists Coalition, Songwriters of North America (SONA), the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), the International Artist Organisation (IAO), the Featured Artists Coalition, the Black Music Action Coalition, the Ivors Academy, and several national management bodies.
Industry Response
Ahead of the letter’s release, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the global trade body for recorded music, issued a statement. “Music companies are leading the fight to protect artists’ and songwriters’ rights in the age of AI,” a spokesperson said. “While our members have taken different approaches, they share the same fundamental objectives: combating the unauthorised use of music and establishing licensing models that return revenue to artists and songwriters.”
The IFPI added that at a time when some tech companies are engaging in wholesale unauthorised use of music, its members have sued infringers, pushed for legislation and developed new licensing models. “We are strongest when united as a music community and would encourage all who share our goal of a healthy and prosperous music ecosystem to work alongside us as we confront those advancing irresponsible AI.”
Recent AI licensing agreements, including those between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG) with AI music platform Udio, and WMG with Suno, have emphasised that artists will be given the choice to opt in rather than being forced. Speaking at an industry conference in January, UMG’s executive vice president of digital business development and strategy, Jonathan Dworkin, said: “We will not use artists’ voices for AI content without their consent. We believe that consent is critical, and the care, thoughtfulness and commitment that goes into it from every corner of the organisation, at every level, is pretty amazing.”
However, today’s letter shines a spotlight on how that choice is presented, and whether musicians feel pressured to agree.
Artist and Manager Perspectives
EMMA executive director Jess Partridge said: “Amidst a flurry of AI deals, EMMA has coordinated this letter because of mounting concerns about the misappropriation and landgrab of artist and songwriter rights. Across the board, we are seeing major music companies acting unilaterally by agreeing global AI licensing agreements without entering into negotiations or requesting consent from the creative talent they work with. This is no way to build a viable, artist-centric music sector. It also risks repeating the mistakes of the past.”
Ivors Academy CEO Roberto Neri added: “Songwriters must not be expected to sign away their rights without proper authorisation, fair remuneration and full transparency. This means having a meaningful say in how their work is used, clear information about the deals being proposed, the ability to give or withhold consent, and a fair share of the value created.”
Music Managers Forum (MMF) CEO Annabella Coldrick said: “On the issue of AI licensing, artists, songwriters and managers have stood shoulder to shoulder with the wider music industry on the principle of consent, and that LLM models should not be trained on other people’s rights. With this open letter, we are simply requesting the same courtesy from our label and publisher partners.”
