Over 1,000 prominent musicians are uniting to release a silent album titled "Is This What We Want?" to protest proposed UK copyright law changes that would allow AI companies to use artists' work without licenses for training purposes.

The album, releasing February 25, features high-profile artists including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, and Hans Zimmer. Its track listing spells out: "The British Government Must Not Legalise Music Theft To Benefit AI Companies."

The UK government's proposed changes would allow AI companies to mine online material for data training, regardless of copyright, unless creators explicitly opt out. Artists argue this "opt-out" system is impractical, as creators would need to notify thousands of AI providers individually not to use their work.

"In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?" said Kate Bush in a statement. Project organizer Ed Newton-Rex called the proposals "disastrous for musicians" and "completely unnecessary."

While the government claims these changes would provide creators with "real control" and transparency, critics argue it would make copyright protection nearly impossible to enforce. All profits from the silent album will be donated to Help Musicians charity.

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