Jason Aldean, Cyndi Lauper Lead Responsible AI Declaration

Cyndi Lauper, Bonnie Raitt, One Republic, Jason Aldean and Common are among nearly 800 creatives who have signed a responsible AI declaration, calling on AI developers to take the “ethical route to obtaining the content and materials they wish to use.”

The campaign:

• Dubbed “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” the project is organized by the Human Artistry Campaign, which was formed in 2023 by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Music Publishers’ Association.

• It carries a simple message: “Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”

• As per Music Business Worldwide, the open letter declares that licensing deals are a viable way forward, stating, “We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected.”

Licensing deals:

• As Music Business Worldwide points out, the music industry has started negotiating such deals, with AI music creation platform Udio recently agreeing to terms with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Merlin.

What they said:

• Human Artistry Campaign, in a press release obtained by Billboard: “Profit-hungry technology companies, including those among the richest in the world as well as private equity-backed ventures, have copied a massive amount of creative content online without authorization or payment to those who created it. American creators are being sidelined and soon won’t be able to afford to continue producing original works if AI developers are permitted to continue stealing them without authorization to produce AI-made copies that compete directly with the original.”