In a strong and bold showcase of unity over 1000 British musicians have united to release a silent album titled Is This What We Want? This innovative protest responds to the UK government’s recently proposed changes to copyright laws, which could allow artificial intelligence (AI) companies to use copyrighted works without direct permission from the creators.
The 12 – track album, recorded in empty studios and performance spaces, doesn’t feature any music – just silence. But its message is loud and clear. Each track title forms a statement: “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.” It is a warning about the potential consequences of AI technology on the future of human creativity.
At the centre of this controversy is a government proposal that would allow AI companies to extract large amounts of copyrighted material, including music, literature, and visual art, to train their systems without getting a clear permission from creators.
Composer and former AI executive Ed Newton-Rex led the silent album project to show the real impact of this legal change could have. “If this law passes, AI could use musicians’ work without their permission. This could be devastating for the industry.”
The movement has gained large support. A group of major artists – including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa – signed an open letter in The Times urging the government to reconsider. One of the strongest statements from the letter explains the situation: “There is no moral or economic argument for stealing our copyright. Taking it away will devastate the industry and steal the future of the next generation.”
The UK government has defended its view, saying that updating copyright laws could help technology grow while still protecting artists. Officials say no final decisions have been made and that they are working with both the tech and creative industries to find a fair solution. Meanwhile, the silent album is getting attention. All proceeds will go to the charity Help Musicians, which supports artists facing challenges in the industry.
MUSICIANS & GROUPS INVOLVED
Aaron Shilson
Abbi Phillips
Adam Janota Bzowski
Adam King
Adam Robinson
Adam Wakeman
Adam Wren
Adem Ilhan
Adiescar Chase
Al O’Kane
Alan Bullard
Alan Naudin Levi
Alesia Harris
Alex Lindner
Alex Parsons
Alexander Campkin
Alexander Chance
Alexander Leeming Froudakis
Alexander Rudd
Alexandra Harwood
Alexis Ffrench
Alfie Jackson
Alice Eldridge
Alice Harper
Alison Cotton
Alison Moncrieff-Kelly
Alison Smart Fisher
Allan Clayton
Amanda Lake
Amelia Warner
Amy Balcomb
Amy Bryce
Anchor Lane
Andrew Baker
Andrew Broadbent
Andrew Frampton
Andrew Keeping
Andrew Kingslow
Andrew Knowles
Andrew Macmillan
Andrew Post
Andrew Potterton
Andrew Storer
Andrew Storey
ANDRO
Andy Lumsden
Andy Mackay
Angela Soanes
Ann Elise Smoot
Anna Gregory
Anna Hallett
Anna Lapwood
Anna Neale
Anne Dudley
Anne Nikitin
Annie Lennox
Annina Melissa
Anthony Marks
Anthony Vander West
Antony Kearns
Anyssa Neumann
Ash Howes
Ashley Mason
Ashley Riches
Astral Realm
Atli Örvarsson
Audiojack
Aya Origenes
Baby Queen
Barb Jungr
Barbara Lake
Bashy
Belinda Dalziel
Ben Foster
Ben Haynes
Ben Howard
Ben Morales Frost
Ben Onono
Ben Palmer
Ben Parry
Ben Salisbury
Benedict Nichols
Beni Giles
Benjamin Ellin
Benjamin Wallfisch
Billy Ocean
Black Bordello
Blair Mowat
Book of Revelations
Bradley Simpson
Brix Smith
Cameron Sinclair
Caritas Consort
Caroline Kraabel
Caroline Lenton-Ward
Caroline Tyler
Catharine Woodward
Catherine McAteer
Cathy Lou
Cathy Phillips Brady
Cave Conscious
Cécile Frangi
Chad Jackson
Charlie Laffer
Charlie Mole
Chill Milk
Chris Difford
Chris Grady
Chris Greive
Chris Hodgkins
Chris Hutchings
Chris Roe
Chris Smith
Chris Xylo
Christian Mason
Christopher Barnett
Christopher Schlechte-Bond
Ciara Millington
Ciaran Walshe
Cj Pandit
Claire Batchelor Morris
Claire Dibble
Colin Mark Andrews
Connie Tanner
Connor Smither
Corin Buckeridge
Crispin Hunt
Damian Grant
Damon Albarn
Dan Grech-Marguerat
Dan McGrath
Dan Potter
Dan Smith
Dan Watts
Dani Filth
Dani Senior
Dani Sylvia
Daniel Charles Beach
Daniel Hyde
Daniel Pemberton
Daniel Trocmé-Latter
Daniele Cocomazzi
Danielle Hartley
Danni O’Neill
Danny Hampson
Darren Campbell
Darren Fellows
Dave Jago
David Barton
David Bascombe
David Brewis
David Donaldson
David Fawcett
David Holmes
David Hyde
David Julyan
David Lale
David Lynas
David Mackay
David Schweitzer
David Stokes
Dean McGinnes
Deborah Hamilton
Dennis Locorriere
Diana Ambache
DJ Sahil AiM
Dobs Vye
Dominik Scherrer
Dru Masters
Dutch Van Spall
Dylan Williams
ECKOES
Ed Marsh
Ed Newton-Rex
Ed O’Brien
Edd Holloway
Edmund Butt
Edmund Jolliffe
Eduardo Bombace
Edward Grint
Edward Picton-Turbervill
Edward Rhys-Harry
Edward Woodhouse
Eleanor Cameron
Eleanor Turner
Eleftheria Kotzia
Eliza Marshall
Elizabeth Ball
Elizabeth Cunningham
Elizabeth Slatter
Elizabeth Stratford
Ellen Beth Abdi
Emma Hartsuiker
Emma-Jean Thackray
Emmanuel Ekeng
Eoin Schmidt-Martin
Erika Gundesen
Esther Abrami
Esther Cavett
Esya
Eugenia Georgieva
Eurielle
Ex Cathedra
Fenella Humphreys
Finn Foxell
Fiona Higham
Fionagh Bennet
Firewhorl
Fortesque
Francis Bucknall
Francis Pott
Frankie Plato
freyyyja
Future Cut
Gabriella Swallow
Gareth Baker Thomas
Gary Carpenter
Gary Cole
Gary Yershon
Gavin Greenaway
Geoff Clark
George Bloomfield
Gizmo Varillas
Glasvegas
Gordon Giles
Gordon Thornett
Graham Boyle
Graham Ross
Graham Walker
Graham Wilson
Grahame Maclean
Greg Usek
Gregory J E Sanders
Gus Nicholson
Guy Chadwick
Guy Farley
Guy Johnston
Hannah Barnett
Hannah Koppenburg
Hannah Ockendon-Rowe
Hans Zimmer
Hard Life
Harry Christophers
Heather Elisabeth Bird
Helen Epega
Helen Lynch
Helen Lyon
Helen Neeves
Helen Rathbone
Helena Culliney
Helienne Lindvall
Hetty Snell
Hilda Paredes
Hilgrove Kenrick
Hillbilly Vegas
Ian Arber
Ian Bostridge
Ian Broudie
Ian Hill
Ian Norsworthy
Igor Olejar
Imogen Heap
Imperial College Chamber Choir
Isaac Stuart
Ivor McGregor
Jabun
Jack Hylton (Jnr)
Jack Thomas
Jack Wilson
Jacknife Lee
Jacob Coton
Jade Leamcharaskul
James Byrne
James Earp
James Hannigan
James Jones
James Lark
James Luxton
James MacMillan
James Morgan
James Oldfield
James Turnbull
James Watson
James Waymont
Jamie Finlay
Jamie Hall
Roger Vignoles
Jamie McVinnie
Jamie Vizard
Jamie Wright
Jamiroquai
Jan Lauren Halen
Jane Warren
Janet Overfield
Jason Garrett
Jason Tarver
JC Stewart
Jenna Brown
Jeremy Cornes
Jeremy Drew
Jeremy Huw Williams
Jeremy Jackman
Jeremy Summerly
Jess Gillam
Jessica Dannheisser
Jessica Rose Weiss
Jill Streater
Jim Clements
Jim Prime
Jimbo Barry
Jimmy Somerville
JKL DUO
Jo Goldsmith-Eteson
Jo Hadler
Joanna Forbes L’Estrange
Joanne Walton
Jobe Baker-Sullivan
Jocelyn Pook
Joe Hearson
Joel Cooper
Johannes Steinray
John Crothers
John Foyle
John Lodge
John Lunn
John Myers
John Pitts
John Powell
John Rutter
John Wilson
Johnny Mortimer
Jon Beattie
Jon King
Jon Opstad
Jonathan Sharif
Jonathan Slatter
Jordan Rakei
Joris de Man
Josephine Oniyama
Josh Nelson
Julian Black
Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Nott
Julie Cane
Juliette Bausor
Juliette Pochin
Justin Tailor
Karen Newby
Karina Tammy Byrne
Kat Pugh
Kate Birchall
Kate Bush
Kate Leek
Kate St John
Katherine Carter
Katie Richardson
Katy Garner
Kegzi
Kelli-Leigh
Kevin Sargent
Kezia Tomsett
Kiah Gossner
Kieran Brunt
Kim Wilde
King Ed
Kirsty Devaney
Kirsty Oneill
Kiya
Kobus Frick
Låpsley
Laura B
Laura Jones
Laura Rossi
Laurence Warner
Laurie Stras
Lee Sparey
Lee Ward
Leifur James
Leo Popplewell
Leona Naess
Libby Smith
Lin Blakley
Linden Jay
Lindsay Gray
Lindsay Wright
Liz May
Liz Melville
London Choral Sinfonia
Lorna Dea
Lorne Balfe
Louis Dodd
Louis Lion
Louis Souyave
Louis Thorne
Louise Dodds
Louise Ellinson
Louise Golbey
Lowswimmer
Lucas Vedel
Lucy Makin
Lucy Morrell-Bannan
Lucy Poole
Luke Gordon
Luke Harrison
Luke Morley
Luke Richards
Luke Taylor
Lydia Kenny
Madeleine Mitchell
Magnus Fiennes
Mahaliah Edwards
Malcolm Archer
Manvinder Rattan
Margaret Archibald
Margaret Holtby
Marillion
Mariska Heijboer Castañon
Mark Aldous
Mark Ayres
Mark Choi
Mark Eason
Mark Jordan
Mark Newby-Robson
Mark Russell
Martin Kennedy
Martin Phipps
Martin Seymour
Martyn Ware
Maruja
Mary Cooper
Mat Andasun
Maths Time Joy
Matt Acheson
Matt Dunkley
Matt Kelly
Matt Saxton
Matthew Barley
Matthew Collins
Maurizio Malagnini
Max Cooke
Max Richter
Megan Lewis
Melvyn Tan
Mene Man
MEYY
Mia Angelice Burlinson
Michael Ashcroft
Michael Berkeley
Michael England
Michael J McEvoy
Michael Waldron
Mike Dixon
Mike Holt
Mike Kintish
Mimi Harmer
Minny Pops
Miranda Ostler
Mirco Altenbach
Miriam Sternlicht
Mitesh Khatri
Mr. Scruff
Murray Gold
Mystery Jets
Nancy Elan
Naomi Kimpenu
Naomi Waltham-Smith
Narin Gylman
Natalie McCool
Nathan Fake
Nathan James Dearden
Nathen Durasamy
Neil Barnes
Neil Dennis
Neil Taylor
New Order
Niall McNamee
Nicholas Daniel
Nicholas Hooper
Nicholas Moor
Nick Ferreira
Nick Fitch
Nick Hall
Nick Milburn
Nick Norton-Smith
Nick Pynn
Nick Samuel
Nick Smith
Nicky Newman
Nicky Spence
Nico Willems
Nicolas Moodie
Nigel Godrich
Nikk Hope
Nina Pankhaniya
Nitin Sawhney
Nubiyan Twist
Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir
ORA Singers
Otala
Owain Park
Own Klly
P. Robin White
Paddy Fletcher
Pam Wedgwood
Pat Alvarez
Patrick Jonsson
Patrizio Knight
Paul Cheneour
Paul Handley
Paul J Housden
Paul Johnson Rogers
Paul Leonard-Morgan
Paul Lewis
Paul Max Edlin
Paul O’Duffy
Paul Thompson
Paula Juden
Peggy Seeger
Pet Shop Boys
Pete Colorado
Pete Q. Harris
Peter Ashley
Peter Fallowell
Peter Hewitt
Peter Mayne
Peter Nardone
Peter Salem
Peter Wallevik
Phil Manzanera
Phil Thornton
Philip Heyman
Philip Sheppard
Phoebe Hutchason
Piers Maxim
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Police Dog Hogan
Poppy Ewence
Porridge Radio
Prairiez
Public Service Broadcasting
R. Betts
Rachael Drury
Rachael Philip
Rachael Pickering
Rachel Mahon
Rachel Portman
Rachel Roberts
Ray Cooper
Raz Olsher
Răzvan Kim
Rebecca Berkley
Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Hepplewhite
Rebecca Seale
Recordare
Redline
Revenge of Calculon
Rhiannon Mathias
Rich Cooper
Rich(ard) Dawson
Richard Allain
Richard G Mitchell
Richard Gowers
Richard Hudson
Richard Lowe
Richard McVeigh
Richard Pike
Richard Shakeshaft
Richard Warren
Riz Ahmed
Roary Skaista
Rob Lane
Rob Lord
Robbie Medina
Robert de Fresnes
Robert Fripp
Robert Green
Robert King
Robert Mingay Smith
Robert Mitchell
Robert Robertson
Robert Tucker
Robert Webb
Robin A Taylor-Firth
Robin Jax
Robin Kiel
Robin Schlochtermeier
Robyn Sellman
Roderick Williams
Rodolfus Choir
Ross Gilmartin
Ross Morrow
Rowland Lee
Roy Babbington
Roy Kerr
Roy Moore
Royal Albert Hall
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Rozzi
Rupert Gough
Ruth Barrett
Ryan Probert
Ryan Trebilcock
Sally Herbert
Sam Burt
Sam Cramer
Sam Dudley
Sam Fender
Sam Harper
Sam Hayes
Sam Klempner
Samuel Pegg
Samuel Sim
Sandy Nuttgens
Sara Foster
Sarah Blair
Sarah Connolly
Sarah Denbee
Sarah Playford
Sarah Warne
Scottish Session Orchestra
Scouting For Girls
Segun Akinola
Serge Sainte Rose
Seton Daunt
Shao Dow
Shean Bowers
SILVASTONE
Simon Carrington
Simon Elms
Simon Franglen
Simon Hewitt Jones
Simon Le Bon
Simon Lole
Simon Nathan
Simon Surtees
Simone Marie
Sion Trefor
Sissy Ford
SOHN
Sophie Kauer
Stay At Home Choir
Stephen Armstrong
Stephen Bullamore
Stephen Hough
Stephen Power
Stephen Shellard
Steve Luck
Steve Pretty
Steven Dodsworth
Stewart McIlwham
STORRY
Stuart Earl
Stuart Jackson
Stuart MacRae
Sue Quin
Sue Sutherley
Susan Bixley
Susanna Gray-Jones
Suvi-Eeva Äikäs
Suwuese Smith
Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Tara Creme
Tasmin Archer
Terl Bryant
The Anchoress
The Choir of Royal Holloway
The Choir of St. Bartholomew the Great
The Clash
The Flight
The Gesualdo Six
The Kanneh-Masons
The King’s Singers
The Ligeti Quartet
The Sixteen
The Swingles
The Ugly Guys
The Vivum Singers
The Wellermen
Thee Alcoholics
Third Girl From the Left
This Is the Kit
Thomas Coldrick
Thomas Hewitt Jones
Thomas Richard Haslehurst
Tim Exile
Tim Gosden
Tim Knight
Tim Oliver
Tim Scott
Tim Seddon
Timothy Blinko
Toby Wheatley
Tom Bullard
Tom C. Cleary
Tom Grennan
Tom Rasmussen
Tom Stafford
Tony Valsamidis
Tony Volker
Tori Amos
Toyah Willcox
Trevor Heath
Tristan Hambleton
Uinya
Victor Ray
Victoria Ann-Louise Whittaker
Vincent Watts
Vinther
VOCES8
Walter Mair
Wayne Corrie Beecham
Will Mowat
Will Todd
William Morris
Willie Dowling
Yard Act
Yazz
YolanDa Brown
Yusuf / Cat Stevens
Zara Nunn
Zero 7
