Protecting the Beat: Why AFEM’s AI Principles Could Shape the Future of Music Creation

The music industry stands at a critical crossroads. The rise of generative AI is transforming how music is made, distributed, and consumed - but not without raising urgent questions about creators’ rights, ethics, and fair compensation. Enter AFEM (Association For Electronic Music), an influential voice in the electronic music scene, which has just released a pioneering set of AI Principles aimed at protecting music creators in this rapidly evolving landscape.

The Cultural Stakes Are High

Music is not just a product; it’s a cultural lifeblood. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) reported that global recorded music revenues hit $31.1 billion in 2023, driven by streaming and digital innovation. But as AI technologies like generative models proliferate, artists and producers fear losing control over their creative output. According to a recent survey by MIDiA Research, 65% of music creators are concerned that AI could exploit their work without fair recognition or pay.

AFEM’s move reflects a growing alarm among creators worldwide. Its new principles demand that AI developers seek “explicit authorisation” from rightsholders before using copyrighted music to train their models. This insistence is crucial because, as AFEM warns, existing industry contracts were never designed with AI in mind - leaving a legal grey zone ripe for exploitation.

Why This Matters: Rights, Recognition, and Revenue

AFEM’s principles aren’t just about protecting revenue streams; they emphasise creators’ moral rights - the personal connection artists have with their work. Even when labels or publishers hold rights, AFEM stresses that “authors and performers must approve or decline AI uses”, safeguarding artistic integrity in a world where AI can generate “new” content based on original works.

The economic impact of ignoring these protections could be staggering. A 2024 report by Goldman Sachs predicted that AI-generated music could disrupt $5 billion in royalties annually by 2030 if left unregulated, siphoning income away from the very people who fuel the industry’s creativity.

Setting a New Standard

AFEM’s principles join a chorus of industry leaders - including UMG, GEMA, and the Human Artistry Campaign - calling for transparent, fair, and ethical AI use. By prioritising creators rather than just rightsholders, AFEM is pushing for a more inclusive and equitable framework, one that balances technological innovation with cultural preservation.

As AFEM co-chair Kurosh Nasseri put it, “By formulating a simple set of core principles... we will create the environment in which this new technology can flourish without violating the rights of creators and rightsholders.”

Looking Ahead: The Future of Music and AI

With generative AI already responsible for creating over 10% of new music tracks in some streaming playlists (source: MIDiA Research), the music industry’s response to AI’s rise will set a precedent for creative industries worldwide. AFEM’s initiative offers a blueprint not only for safeguarding music creators but also for ensuring AI innovation respects and uplifts human artistry.

The challenge? Aligning fast-moving tech development with the slower rhythms of legal and ethical frameworks - and making sure that, in the rush to embrace AI’s potential, the heartbeat of music’s creators remains front and center.

🎧 AFEM’s AI Principles – Key Takeaways:

1. Explicit Authorisation Required
   AI developers must obtain clear, explicit permission from rightsholders before using copyrighted music for AI training.

2. Fair Compensation and Transparent Credit
   Creators and rightsholders must be fairly compensated and properly credited when their work is used in AI systems.

3. Contracts Must Be AI-Specific
   Existing music industry agreements do not automatically cover AI use. Labels, publishers and distributors must include AI-specific clauses in new contracts to ensure proper authorisation and remuneration.

4. Creators Retain Moral and Usage Rights
   Even when recordings and compositions are owned by labels or publishers, moral rights remain with the creators.
   Authors and performers must approve or decline any AI use of their work.

5. Rights Cannot Be Assumed or Implied
   It must not be assumed that existing contracts or ownership imply consent for AI training or generative outputs.

These principles are designed to set ethical boundaries for AI in music and ensure that creators remain at the centre of innovation, ownership and cultural value.

This post was following Stuart Dredge’s article on music:)ally here

Sources:

• IFPI Global Music Report 2024

• MIDiA Research, Music Creators and AI Survey 2024

• Goldman Sachs, AI and Music Industry Report 2024

• AFEM AI Principles Announcement, June 2025