acePaul McCartney joins music industry protest against AI with silent track
At two minutes 45 seconds it’s about the same length as With a Little Help From My Friends. But Paul McCartney’s first new recording in five years lacks the sing-along tune and jaunty guitar chops because there’s barely anything there. The former Beatle, arguably Britain’s greatest living songwriter, is releasing a track of an almost completely silent recording studio as part of a music industry protest against copyright theft by artificial intelligence companies. In place of catchy melodies and evocative lyrics…
Publisher image: The Guardian.
On 17 November 2025, Paul McCartney released an almost completely silent studio recording as a bonus track on the protest vinyl Is This What We Want?, joining other artists releasing silence to oppose AI companies training generative models on music without permission or royalties. The release was timed to pressure the UK government as it consults on a copyright exception for text and data mining.
The action matters because it links AI development directly to creator income and the viability of new music, framing unlicensed training as theft that could silence future work. What remains uncertain is whether the UK will adopt an opt-out system, how it will reconcile creator protections with US tech investment and White House anti-regulation pressure, and whether silent protest will influence a law not expected to reach parliament before 2026.
- Paul McCartney contributed an almost silent studio recording as B-side to protest LP Is This What We Want, whose track listing spells out opposition to legalising music theft for AI.
- Campaign led by composer Ed Newton-Rex opposes UK government consultation on a text and data mining exception that would require copyright holders to opt out of AI training.
- Government is balancing creative industries worth £125bn annually against US tech firms announcing over £30bn in UK investments, while facing pressure from US administration over AI regulation.
Generative AI companies training models on musicians' copyrighted work without approval or royalties risks wrecking the creative ecosystem, silencing original music, and eliminating career paths for young composers and writers.
The rundown
The protest centers on a vinyl LP titled Is This What We Want? filled with silent recordings, including McCartney's 2 minute 45 second track described as 55 seconds of tape hiss, 15 seconds of clattering, and 80 seconds of rustle-punctuated hiss. Other backers named are Sam Fender, Kate Bush, Hans Zimmer, Pet Shop Boys and Max Richter.
The UK government consulted on allowing a copyright exception for text and data mining with an opt-out requirement, while also signing deals with Open AI, Google and Anthropic to boost AI adoption. Ministers cite balancing £125bn creative sector value against more than £30bn in announced US tech investments, mostly in datacentres.
Sources
- JournalismThe Guardian2025-11-17
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