This week more than 1000 musicians and groups have banded together to release Is This What We Want?
Is This What We Want? is a protest album, like so many powerful albums are, protesting the UK governments proposed changes to copyright law. The proposed changes would allow AI (artificial intelligence) companies to use artists’ copyrighted work – not just music but artworks, text etc. without a license to build their products.
The album consists of recordings of empty studios and performance spaces, representing the impact the combined musicians expect the government’s proposals would have on musicians’ livelihoods. It’s not quite silence, but it is the distinct absence of music. A brief glimpse of what could happen in an already struggling industry if these changes were allowed to pass.
The list of musicians involved is wide ranging, from Kate Bush to Damon Albarn to personal long time favourites of mine Glasvegas. You can see the complete list of musicians involved at www.isthiswhatwewant.com.
You can stream the album here. (And once you’ve done that, maybe choose an artist or two from the list of those involved and give them a listen too!)
All profits from the album are being donated to the charity Help Musicians.
Album track list:
- The
- British
- Government
- Must
- Not
- Legalize
- Music
- Theft
- To
- Benefit
- AI
- Companies