Generative AI could put a substantial amount of musicians’ revenue “at risk” by 2028, report finds

Generative AI could put a substantial amount of musicians’ revenue “at risk” by 2028, according to a new report shared by the Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS).

The organisation has shared an extensive report on the matter, which was put together using the survey answers of 4,274 of its members, ranging from songwriters and composers to publishers. Using the data obtained from their views, it found that as many as 23% of those surveyed believed that music creators’ revenue will take a hit due to generative AI within the next four years.

The data focuses on the music industries of Australia and New Zealand, and says this would represent a hit of approximately $153 million in 2028 alone. The figure bumps up to around $350 million when taking the collective sums of 2024 to 2028 into account.

At the same time, however, many of those surveyed said they were embracing AI in some forms. 38% of respondents confirmed using “AI in their work with music and creation in general”. 5% added that they had got into the habit of using AI in their work “consistently or nearly always”.

At the other end of the spectrum, 27% of people who answered the survey said they refused to use AI in any form when making music. While 8% said they had a somewhat positive or very positive view of AI, another 82% acknowledged worries that its growing use “in music could lead to music creators no longer being able to make a living from their work”.

Find out more about APRA AMCOS’ AI in music report here.

Earlier this year, a British parliamentary group told the government that AI use in music should be the subject of future regulation.