Music Industry Bodies Demand Artists Consent in AI Deals, Reject Default Opt-Ins

On 22 June 2026, a coalition of more than 30 music‑industry organisations released an open letter calling for artists and songwriters to be consulted and to give informed consent before their works are used in artificial‑intelligence (AI) projects. The letter, signed by groups such as the European Music Managers Alliance, The Ivors Academy, the Music Artists Coalition (USA), and the Music Managers Forum (UK), warns that record labels and publishers are negotiating AI deals that could shape the future of music without meaningful artist input.

The letter points to a growing pattern: artists already bound by recording or publishing contracts receive notices from major labels and publishers stating that their works will be “opted in to AI‑related uses by default.” The organisations argue that this practice gives artists little choice, offers insufficient information, and fails to guarantee fair remuneration. They also note that new contracts increasingly include AI‑rights clauses as a standard condition.

Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, wrote that “songwriters must not be expected to sign away their rights without proper authorisation, fair remuneration and full transparency.” He added that AI in music must be built on respect for creators’ rights and not on default opt‑ins or terms imposed without genuine choice.

The coalition’s core demands are:

1. Consent and control – Artists must actively and specifically consent before any use of their works, voice, performance, likeness or creative identity in AI. Consent cannot be buried in broad contract language or made a condition of signing a new deal. 2. Fair compensation – Where artists agree to participate, they must receive a clear, meaningful share of the revenue generated. The letter calls for transparent accounting that shows how much goes to the artist, the label and the AI company. 3. Clarity and transparency – Requests must be purpose‑specific and provide timely, understandable information about the rights involved, the permitted uses, safeguards, duration and withdrawal procedures.

The letter also urges all companies entering AI music deals to make a public commitment that includes: no default opt‑ins, no forced AI clauses, and no use of artists’ work without meaningful consent, fair remuneration and full transparency.

AI music generators such as Suno, AIMusicGen and other platforms have grown rapidly in 2026. While some companies claim to train models on publicly available data, others have been accused of using copyrighted songs, lyrics and performances without permission. In April 2026, a European Commission report noted that several AI‑powered music services were training on copyrighted material without clear licensing agreements.

The open letter arrives amid policy reviews in the European Union and the United States that aim to update copyright rules for AI. The organisations argue that the structures being created now will shape the music ecosystem for years to come.

The letter has been shared on social‑media platforms by industry insiders, but no official response from major labels or AI companies has yet been published. The organisations that signed the letter include: - European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) - European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) - Music Artists Coalition (USA) - SONA – Songwriters of North America - NITO – National Independent Talent Organisation (USA) - IAO – International Artists Organisation - Association of Artist Managers (Australia) - Music Managers Forum Aotearoa (New Zealand) - Music Managers Forum Canada - Featured Artists Coalition (UK) - The Ivors Academy (UK) - Music Managers Forum UK - UMAN – Union des Manageuses et Managers de la musique (France) - Music Managers Forum Netherlands - NEMAA – Norwegian Entertainment Managers and Agents Association - IGMAP – Polish Artists Chamber of Commerce - IMUC – Interessenverband Musikmanager & Consultants (Germany) - Music Managers Forum Sweden - AIM Ireland - MMaF – Music Managers Federation (Flanders, Belgium) - Music Managers Forum Finland - ZEME – Hungarian Managers Forum - Music Estonia Managers - Danske Artist Managers - Music Managers Forum Ukraine - Music Managers Forum Iceland - Music Managers Forum Suisse - FORMA – Foro de Mánagers (Spain) - Fédération des Bookers et Managers Unies (Wallonia, Belgium)

The letter underscores that artists and songwriters hold many rights beyond copyright, including moral, neighbouring, image and personality rights. The organisations argue that these rights cannot be treated as label or publisher assets and that artists should be the primary parties approached by AI companies.

For creators who rely on licensing revenue, the lack of clear terms and default opt‑ins could erode income streams. The call for fair compensation and transparency aims to prevent a scenario in which AI companies extract value from artists’ works without a corresponding share.

The open letter represents a coordinated industry push for artist‑centric AI agreements. While the letter has not yet prompted a formal policy change, it signals that the music community is actively seeking to shape AI licensing practices. The next steps will depend on how record labels, publishers, AI companies and policymakers respond to these demands.