Art Under Attack

Sir Elton John has joined a coalition of more than 400 influential figures from the UK’s creative industries — including Dua Lipa, Sir Ian McKellen, and Florence Welch — in a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Their message: take urgent action to shield musicians, actors, and other creators from the unchecked use of artificial intelligence.

At the heart of their campaign is a proposed amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, championed by Baroness Beeban Kidron. The amendment calls for transparency from AI developers about when and how they use copyrighted material to train their models — a demand that would give artists greater control over their intellectual property in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

In a joint open letter, the artists argue that this legal shift could pave the way for a sustainable future where both AI innovation and human creativity can coexist under fair licensing frameworks.

Sharing his message on Instagram, Elton John, 78, emphasized the government's responsibility to protect its people and their work. "Supporting us supports the creators of the future. Our work is not yours to give away," he wrote, underscoring the emotional and economic stakes for the industry.

This isn’t the first time creatives have pushed back. Earlier this year, high-profile musicians including Annie Lennox and Damon Albarn released a silent protest album, drawing attention to proposed copyright reforms they believe threaten artistic ownership.

With a crucial vote looming in the House of Lords on May 12, the creative sector is watching closely — and speaking with one voice.