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  • Mitxoda Weekly #24: AI Copyright Battles & The Future of Creativity

Mitxoda Weekly #24: AI Copyright Battles & The Future of Creativity

Why Supporting Indie Artists Matters More Than Ever, From a Community in Need to the Fight for Fair AI Ethics

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Mitxoda
March 07, 2025

Hello Dear Friend!

Welcome to Mitxoda Weekly #24! …and if it’s your first time, glad to have you here!

This week, we’re diving into a heated debate shaking up the UK—and, in many ways, the entire music world. If you’ve been following discussions around AI and copyright, you might have heard about a bold protest led by over 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, and New Order. Their fight? Stopping AI companies from freely using copyrighted material to train their models—without artist consent.

And their statement couldn’t be clearer. On February 25, they released Is This What We Want?, a silent album featuring 12 blank tracks that spell out a powerful message:

“The British Government Must Not Legalise Music Theft To Benefit AI Companies.”

All proceeds from the album go to Help Musicians, a charity supporting artists in the UK. But beyond the protest itself, this moment is exposing a massive debate about how AI and copyright should coexist.

I wish you a happy reading, once again!

Au menu, this week:

Indie Support: 💔 Fossegrim Needs Our Help! 💔

You may remember Fossegrim Records and the amazing playlists he used to curate for all of us. Well, right now, he’s going through an incredibly tough time. He’s lost his home and is now living in a garage, trying to rebuild from scratch.

This is someone who refuses to give up, who’s fighting to get back on his feet. And he needs our help to make that happen.

If you can spare even a little, please consider donating. If you can’t, sharing this message would mean the world. Let’s support a good guy, a great musician, and a generous curator who’s always given to our community.

I, for one, can’t wait for his next playlist. Let’s make sure he gets to create it from a better place. 🧡

🙏 Donate & Share: GoFundMe Link

(Erratum!)

In my previous Weekly, I did not fully clarify Spotify's payment update. Tracks now need at least 1,000 streams in 12 months to generate royalties, redistributing small lost payments to artists most reliant on streaming income. (Thanks Nadine for this!).

By the way, if you spot a typo, a wild approximation, or a musical fact that’s slightly off, congrats, you’ve unlocked the ‘indie authenticity’ bonus! Imperfection is part of the ride. 😆

The UK government is considering a major copyright shift that would allow AI companies to train their models on existing music, books, and artworks, unless artists actively opt out. This means AI platforms could scrape music from online sources and use it for training without permission. And if you’re an artist, you’d have to go out of your way to prevent it, instead of the other way around.

Sound unfair? You’re not alone in thinking that.

Critics say this policy puts an unfair burden on artists, essentially allowing AI companies to profit from human creativity without compensation.

Why Are Artists Fighting Back?

Musicians and creators have been vocal about the dangers of AI in the creative industries, and their concerns go beyond just copyright. Here are the key reasons why they’re taking a stand:

AI Exploits Artistic Works Without Consent

AI models are trained using massive datasets, often containing copyrighted music, artwork, and literature, without asking permission or offering compensation.

Artists are seeing their unique styles copied and repurposed, blurring the line between human creativity and machine-generated content.

AI Undermines the Creative Process

Many artists argue that AI strips the creative process of its authenticity by automating aesthetic decisions. AI-generated content lacks the emotional depth and lived experience that define human artistry.

Economic Risks for Artists

AI-generated content could flood the market, reducing opportunities for human artists and devaluing original works. Smaller artists and independent musicians, those who rely on every stream and sale, could be hit the hardest as AI creates free alternatives.

Lack of Transparency

AI companies rarely disclose where their training data comes from, making it difficult for artists to track if their work is being used.

Some tools, like Glaze and Nightshade, have been developed to protect artworks by distorting them against AI scraping, but should artists really have to defend themselves in this way?

The Need for Better Protections

With AI advancing rapidly, artists are calling for clear laws that require explicit consent before copyrighted material is used.

They want AI companies to pay for training on copyrighted works, just as music services like Spotify and Apple Music pay royalties.

In contrast, many other countries are taking different approaches to AI and copyright.

How Other Countries Are Handling AI and Copyright

🇪🇺 European Union: AI Must Play by the Rules

Under the EU AI Act, which will be fully in place by 2026, AI companies must follow a risk-based approach:

  • Transparency Rules (2026): AI-generated content must be clearly labeled.

  • Training Data: AI developers must disclose what datasets they use, including music and art.

  • Prohibited AI (2025): Some AI applications will be outright banned.

The EU forces AI companies to be transparent, whereas the UK’s proposal gives them free rein, unless artists fight back.

🇺🇸 United States: AI Doesn’t Own Copyright

The US is sticking to traditional copyright rules, emphasizing that AI-generated content cannot be copyrighted unless there’s significant human involvement. Prompts alone don’t count as creative input.

While the UK might let AI train on anything by default, the US doesn’t even grant AI-generated works legal protection.

🇨🇦 Canada: Still Deciding, But Leaning Toward Licensing

Canada is still debating the issue, but current discussions focus on forcing AI companies to pay for copyrighted material, transparency requirements on AI training data and an opt-in system instead of opt-out, meaning AI firms would need permission first.

Canada seems more likely to protect artists and demand AI licensing fees, rather than giving AI companies a free pass.

🇦🇺 Australia: Transparency First, Fair Pay Next

Australia has already introduced AI transparency laws, meaning that AI-generated content must be clearly labeled and AI training data licensing is being discussed to ensure fair pay for artists.

Australia is ahead of the UK in protecting artists, at least by requiring transparency in AI decisions.

Where I Stand on AI in My Work

I want to be fully transparent with all of you. I do not use AI in my music creation or lyrics. Everything I write comes from my own hands, my own experiences, and my own emotions. However, I do use AI for things I cannot do myself, like designing track covers. For that, I work with Midjourney, a tool I’ve learned to prompt carefully, and then I use Canva to refine and create the final template.

Does this make me a criminal? I don’t think so. AI is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. The key difference is how we choose to use it. I believe in transparency, and I want you all to know exactly how AI fits into my work. If you ever have any questions about it, I’m always open to discussing it.

Why This Matters for All of Us

It’s a global conversation about the future of music, creativity, and AI ethics. Major labels like Universal Music Group and Sony have already started legal battles against AI companies using copyrighted songs without permission.

And as someone based in Belgium, under EU regulation, I can’t help but notice how different this situation looks from here. The EU might not be perfect, but at least it’s trying to force AI developers to be transparent and accountable.

Meanwhile, musicians in the UK are literally using silence as a protest, because if AI keeps going in this direction, that’s what’s at stake: a future where human creativity is drowned out by machine-made content. Take a look at this https://www.isthiswhatwewant.com/

So, where do we go from here? Do we let AI reshape the industry, or do we push back and demand fair rights for artists?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you think about all this? Is AI a threat or an opportunity? Let’s talk!

✔️ Follow Mitxoda on Bandcamp or on any another platform 
✔️ Grab my songs on Bandcamp or go old-school with a physical copy of my EP Distant and Close here 

Bandcamp Friday: A Perfect Time to Support Indie Music

Bandcamp Friday is back! On this special day, Bandcamp waives its revenue share, meaning that every cent spent on music goes directly to the artists. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with fans, reach new listeners, and celebrate indie music together. If you’ve been thinking about grabbing one of my tracks, this is the perfect time to do so! You can find my latest releases here. Let’s make this Bandcamp Friday count and show love to the artists who keep the scene alive!

Peter Gabriel: The Visionary Force Behind Genesis and Beyond

I've always had a deep love for Genesis, with a particular appreciation for the Peter Gabriel era, though my admiration extends beyond it. His theatrical vision and boundary-pushing creativity shaped some of the most unforgettable moments in progressive rock, blending storytelling, innovation, and emotion in a way few artists have matched. This article dives into his incredible journey, from his time with Genesis to his groundbreaking solo career, definitely worth a read for any music lover!

Historical Fact: The World's Oldest Message in a Bottle Found in Australia

On this day in 2018, the world's oldest message in a bottle was discovered on a beach in Western Australia. A couple stumbled upon the historic find, later identified as dating back to 1886—over 130 years old! The bottle was part of a German naval experiment, making it an incredible piece of maritime history.

Here it is! A little slice of history shared just for you!

Playlist of the Week: Dark Indie Mixtape 

Nadine's Indie Treasures: Shannon Darcy, A Voice That Demands Attention

Nadine de Macedo is captivated by Shannon Darcy's raw energy and vocal prowess. She first discovered her through Freak Show in 2023 but was later swept away by To Understand and I Am. With outstanding vocal control and a fearless rock attitude, Nadine is convinced that Shannon Darcy is on the path to an impressive career. Available now on all platforms!

💬 Introducing Nadine’s Indie Treasures a new chapter where Nadine de Macedo handpicks and spotlights exceptional artists. Subscribe to her Bandcamp to support her work, enjoy exclusive singles, and be part of her evolving story!

Quick Indie News

Dragon and Berr are out here doing their thing: making music, embracing the weird, and having a damn good time doing it! 🎶🔥 They’re not trying to fit in, not trying to stand apart, just riding the indie wave with passion and pure creative energy. I totally back this and love seeing artists stay true to themselves. Dive into their message and show them some love here. Keep it weird, keep it fun, and keep the music rolling!

If you'd like to introduce your latest release, just click here to submit all the details. I’d love to hear about it! 😇 Submit your track here.

Until Next Week: The Future is Ours to Shape

Indie music isn’t just about songs, it’s also about the people behind them. From supporting Fossegrim to standing up for artists’ rights, this week proves that our voices matter.

AI, like Word, Excel, or a any calculator, is just a tool. I’m not against people using it to create. It’s just not my cup of tea for music creation. What truly matters is why and how we use it. No AI, no algorithm can replace the heart of real music.

Music is human. Let’s keep it that way.

And keep viewing AI as an assistant that sometimes makes mistakes.

Until next week, stay loud, stay real, stay indie.

Love, Mitxoda

END 😆 

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