The silent album "Is This What We Want?" consists of 12 tracks featuring recordings of empty studios and performance spaces12. Released on February 25, 2025, it coincides with the closing of a government consultation on proposed copyright law changes13. The track titles collectively form the sentence: "The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies"4. This innovative protest method aims to highlight the potential consequences of allowing AI companies to use copyrighted works without proper licensing or compensation, effectively demonstrating what artists fear could become the reality of the music industry if the proposed changes are implemented52.

The UK government's proposed copyright law changes aim to allow AI companies to use creators' content from the internet for model development, unless rights holders explicitly opt out. Critics argue this approach reverses the fundamental principle of copyright law by requiring creators to notify AI developers if they don't want their content used12. The proposal has sparked outrage among artists who fear it will:

• Fail to compensate creators for AI's use of their work

• Stifle creativity in the music industry

• Place an unnecessary burden on artists through the opt-out scheme

• Potentially undermine Britain's creative industries3

Ed Newton-Rex, the project's organizer and a former AI executive, stated that the government's proposal would "hand the life's work of the country's musicians to AI companies, for free, letting those companies exploit musicians' work to outcompete them"4. The UK government maintains its goal is to make the country a world leader in AI while balancing creators' needs, but the creative community clearly believes the current proposals fail to achieve this balance56.

The protest against AI copyright proposals has garnered significant support from a diverse range of high-profile artists and creatives. Legendary musicians such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Simon Cowell have voiced their concerns about the potential impact on the music industry12. The movement has also extended beyond music, with renowned authors like Kazuo Ishiguro, Michael Morpurgo, and Helen Fielding joining the cause. These writers, along with musicians, denounced the proposals as a "wholesale giveaway" to Silicon Valley in a letter to The Times newspaper3. Additionally, UK newspapers have thrown their weight behind the protest, launching a "Make it Fair" campaign featuring wrap-around ads on almost every national daily to highlight their concerns about the proposed copyright changes3.

The silent album serves as a powerful metaphor for the potential silencing of artists' creative voices, with Kate Bush poignantly asking, "In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?"1 This innovative protest brings together a diverse range of artists, from classical musicians like Sir James MacMillan and The Kanneh-Masons to pop and rock icons such as Billy Ocean and members of The Clash.2 Beyond its symbolic significance, the album demonstrates a commitment to supporting the music community, with all profits being donated to the charity Help Musicians.12 This charitable aspect underscores the solidarity within the industry and the broader implications of the proposed copyright changes on musicians' livelihoods.