Sony Music has disclosed that it has removed over 75,000 AI-generated tracks impersonating its artists, including global stars like Harry Styles, as the music giant fights back against a rising tide of deepfake music. The revelation comes amid the UK government’s controversial proposals to loosen copyright protections, a move that Sony and other industry leaders fear could cause severe damage to musicians and the wider creative sector.
The Financial Times has reported that Sony Music made the disclosure in a submission to the UK government’s consultation on AI and copyright laws. The label warned that artificial intelligence-generated recordings are causing “direct commercial harm to legitimate recording artists, including UK artists”. With AI tools increasingly capable of producing vast amounts of convincingly fake content, record labels and artists alike are struggling to keep up with the removal of unauthorised material.
Sony’s submission emphasised the risks posed by the proposed changes, arguing that allowing AI companies to train their models for free on copyrighted content would significantly weaken the industry’s ability to protect its intellectual property. Under the government’s plan, AI developers would be able to use music, books, films, and other media without paying for access, unless copyright holders specifically opt out—a system critics argue places an unfair administrative burden on creators.
Music executives have warned that the number of fake AI-generated tracks circulating online is likely far higher than what has been detected so far. Despite significant takedown efforts, the scale of the issue remains vast. The majority of fakes target the most well-known artists, with Sony citing Harry Styles, Queen, and Beyoncé as some of the most affected.
The proposed policy shift is part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s broader push to position the UK as a global leader in AI development. Ministers have suggested that relaxing copyright rules could help accelerate AI innovation and establish the UK as a hub for AI-driven businesses. However, this has sparked fierce backlash from musicians, filmmakers, media organisations, and other creative professionals, who argue that such a move would undermine the financial sustainability of their industries.
Sony Music criticised the government’s proposals as “rushed, unbalanced and irreversible”, warning that the changes would “reduce, not increase, AI licensing activity in the UK market”. The company insists that the current system—where AI developers must pay for copyrighted content—is both fair and essential for sustaining a thriving creative economy. Sony further stressed that copyright is “a right, not a regulation” and serves as a “necessary societal reward” for artistic contributions that enrich public life.
The UK is currently the world’s third-largest recorded music market and the second-biggest exporter of music. Industry leaders argue that dismantling copyright protections in favour of AI developers could irreparably harm this sector, shifting economic power away from creators and towards technology companies. The proposals, Sony warned, “unfairly and unnecessarily” distort the market in favour of AI firms at the expense of the creative industries.
While government officials insist they remain open to different perspectives, the backlash from the creative sector continues to mount. With AI deepfakes posing a growing threat to musicians’ livelihoods and copyright law at a critical crossroads, the UK’s approach to regulating AI-generated content could have lasting implications for the future of the music industry worldwide.
