Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In 2025 and early 2026, the BBC Talking Business series and wider BBC reporting have extensively covered the transformative and controversial role of AI in the music industry.
Key Broadcast Highlights
Is AI Taking Over? In a November 28, 2025 episode, host Ben Thompson explored whether the industry is being overwhelmed by AI-generated tracks topping charts and flooding streaming platforms.
Economic Impact: A May 2024 episode discussed who stands to profit—artists, record labels, or tech giants—and examined the rise of virtual avatars like those in ABBA Voyage.
Legal Protections: An October 2024 episode featured legal experts and industry leaders discussing the urgent need for a legal framework to protect creative rights from unauthorized AI training.
BBC Introducing Controversy: In late 2025, the BBC Introducing program faced significant backlash for naming a fully AI-generated act its “Artist of the Month”. Critics called the decision “indefensible” and “disrespectful” to human musicians working to build their careers.
Artist Protests: High-profile artists, including Sir Elton John, Dua Lipa, and Sir Paul McCartney, have signed open letters calling for stronger copyright protections. They have described “soulless AI bots” as a threat to human creativity and warned of a “Wild West” where artists’ work is plundered.
Streaming Platform Responses:
Spotify has stated it will not ban AI-made music outright but is collaborating with major labels to develop ethical AI tools.
Deezer announced plans to implement technology to detect and delete “deepfake” AI songs.
Copyright Battles: Major labels have initiated lawsuits against AI firms, alleging they are training their models on copyrighted music without permission or compensation. Approximately 66% of music creators now view AI as a direct threat to their careers.
For further viewing, episodes of Talking Business are available on BBC iPlayer.
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