APRA AMCOS Unveils AI & Music Report: Concerns for AU/NZ Music Creators

APRA AMCOS has just released the most comprehensive study of its kind in the region, shedding light on the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the music industry in Australia and New Zealand.

The AI & Music Report draws on insights from over 4,200 APRA AMCOS members, including songwriters, composers, and music publishers, offering a detailed look at the economic and cultural challenges posed by this rapidly advancing technology.

The report’s findings are a stark reminder of the potential risks ahead.

By 2028, 23% of music creators’ revenues could be lost due to the rise of generative AI, amounting to an estimated AUD$519 million. This projected loss highlights the urgent need for the industry to adapt and address the growing influence of AI.

While more than half of those surveyed acknowledge that AI can enhance the creative process, the report reveals widespread concern among music creators.

A significant 82% worry that AI could threaten their ability to earn a living, reflecting the anxiety that many feel about the future of their careers in a world increasingly shaped by AI-driven content.

The cultural impact is particularly troubling for Indigenous creators.

The report shows that 89% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music creators fear that AI will lead to greater cultural appropriation. Michelle Levings, aka GLVES, voiced concerns that AI could strip away the soul and lived experience from First Nations music, reducing it to a product devoid of cultural identity and attribution.

“It would be easy for people who are looking for a quick and cost-effective First Nations sound element to create an atmosphere to use AI. Using AI in that application would effectively take the soul/spirit/human/lived experience/ history out of the sounds, and then no one is entitled to rights and it’s not attributed to a culture, but it still creates a musical product with a certain feel,” Levings said.

APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston emphasised the need for a strong regulatory framework to protect creators’ rights.

“The survey reveals that many Australian and New Zealand songwriters, composers and music publishers are early adopters of AI technology. However, there is an almost universal and urgent call for government to do much more to protect the livelihoods of creators. Over the past two years, APRA AMCOS has voiced concerns about the lack of transparency in generative AI platforms. These platforms must acknowledge the creative content they scrape and copy, which is essential for generating AI outputs,” Ormston stated.

He called for greater transparency and fairness in how AI is used, urging policymakers to act swiftly to safeguard the future of the music industry.

The report also includes perspectives from industry figures like Peter Garrett, who warned that without proper laws to ensure creators are fairly compensated, the industry could face serious consequences.

“Without robust laws to ensure copyright holders are adequately remunerated, licenses applied and transparency around the actual processes used when a creator’s work is exploited, then we‘re in deep trouble,” he said.

Despite the challenges outlined in the report, it also points to the potential benefits of AI when used responsibly.

Many in the industry are already exploring how AI can complement human creativity rather than replace it. As the conversation around AI and music continues to evolve, it’s clear that the balance between innovation and protection of creators’ rights will be crucial to the future of the industry.

Watch the AI & Music Report launch webinar below and read the report here.