AI music under fire: EU Parliament calls for new rules and protections

The EU Parliament has passed a resolution calling for more transparency and fairness in the music streaming industry, especially regarding the use of AI tools.

The EU Parliament has adopted a resolution urging the European Commission to propose a legal framework for the music streaming sector. (Image: Freepik)

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for new EU rules to make the music streaming industry more fair and sustainable for artists and performers, as well as to protect cultural diversity.

The resolution, which was passed by 532 votes to 61 and 33 abstentions on Wednesday, urges the European Commission to propose a legal framework for the sector, which currently lacks any specific EU regulation, despite being the main way that people consume music.

One of the main issues that the resolution addresses is the transparency of AI tools used by streaming platforms, such as algorithms and recommendation systems. The resolution argues that these tools should be made clear to the public, to avoid unfair practices that could manipulate streaming numbers and reduce artists’ fees.

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The resolution also proposes that streaming platforms should inform the listeners when the songs they play have been created by AI, and that they should combat the phenomenon of “deepfake” music, which uses the identities, voices and likenesses of human artists without their consent.

Moreover, the resolution demands that streaming platforms should identify the right-holders of the songs they host, by correctly allocating metadata, to make their works more visible and accessible.

The rapporteur of the resolution, Ibán García del Blanco, said in a press release: “The Parliament is giving voice to the concerns of European creators, who are at the heart of the music streaming market. Cultural diversity and ensuring that authors are credited and fairly paid has always been our priority; this is why we ask for rules that ensure algorithms and recommendation tools used by music streaming services are transparent as well as in their use of AI tools, placing European authors at the centre.”

The resolution is not legally binding, but it is a strong signal to the European Commission, which is expected to take it into account when drafting legislation for the music streaming sector. However, this process could take several years, and the final outcome is uncertain.