Petition Subtitle
Require Immediate Takedowns, Voice Authentication, and AI Transparency in Music Distribution

 
Petition Description
Music, voice, and performance are not data sets — they are human identity.

Today, artificial intelligence can replicate a recording artist’s voice, likeness, and performance style with alarming accuracy. These AI-generated works are already being released commercially without the artist’s consent, flooding digital platforms, confusing fans, and undermining the livelihoods and identities of real creators.

This is not innovation.
This is identity theft at scale.

Recording artists, vocalists, actors, and performers deserve the same protection over their voice and likeness that individuals have over their name, image, and biometric data. A human voice is personal, irreplaceable, and deeply tied to identity — and it must not be exploited without permission.

We are calling on Digital Service Providers (DSPs), AI platforms, publishers, and lawmakers to take immediate, enforceable action.

 
What We Are Demanding

1. Explicit Consent Requirement
AI platforms and publishers must obtain verifiable, written permission from an artist before using, training on, synthesizing, or releasing content that reproduces a human voice or likeness for commercial use.

No consent = no release.

 
2. Immediate Takedown Protection
DSPs must implement a fast-track takedown system for unauthorized AI-generated content that uses an artist’s voice or likeness — equal to or faster than existing copyright takedown procedures.

Artists should not bear the burden while their identity is being exploited.

 
3. AI-Driven Voice Identity Authentication
DSPs and AI platforms must collaborate on an AI-powered voice identity authentication system that:

Verifies whether a voice belongs to a consenting human artist
Flags unauthorized or synthetic impersonations
Protects artists before commercial harm occurs
Technology created this problem. Technology must help solve it.

 
4. Legal Accountability
Unauthorized commercial use of a human voice or likeness via AI must be clearly defined as an intellectual property and right-of-publicity violation, with enforceable penalties and shared liability for distributors and platforms that profit from it.

 

5. Mandatory AI Performance Disclosure (FINAL ASK)
DSPs must require publishers and distributors to clearly disclose the level of AI involvement in every musical release, including standardized labeling such as:

A. 100% Human Performed
B. 75% Human / 25% AI Performed
C. 50% Human / 50% AI Performed
D. 25% Human / 75% AI Performed
E. 100% AI PerformedAccurate

Publicly visible to listeners
Submitted at upload and verified where possible
Fans deserve transparency.
Artists deserve clarity.
Markets deserve truth.

 
Why This Matters
Without clear protections and transparency:

Artists lose control over their own identity
Fans are misled by synthetic performances
Human creativity is devalued
AI-generated impersonation becomes normalized
We are not anti-AI.
We are pro-human creativity, consent, and truth.

 
Who This Petition Is Addressed To:
Digital Streaming Platforms (DSPs)
Music distributors and publishers
AI music and voice generation companies
App stores and content marketplaces
Legislators and regulatory agencies
 
Our Vision
A creative ecosystem where:

Human artists control their voice and likeness
AI is used transparently and ethically
Fans know what they are listening to
Innovation and human creativity coexist responsibly
 
Call to Action
If you believe:

A creator owns their voice
Consent is non-negotiable
Transparency protects everyone
Sign this petition. Share it. Protect human artistry.

The future of music should be innovative — not deceptive.

 
As the founder and chairman of the Recording Artists Guild (RAG), I've witnessed firsthand the unsettling consequences of unauthorized AI technology in the music industry. One particular incident ( Example of Abuse ), vividly displayed on Instagram, involved the unauthorized cloning and publication of a well-known artist's voice on various streaming platforms. This artist, like many others, found their unique vocal identity replicated without their explicit consent, raising significant ethical and legal questions.

Artificial intelligence has made remarkable strides, offering numerous benefits across different sectors, but its rapid adoption in the creative industry, particularly in music, necessitates urgent action to protect the rights of human artists. The use of AI to replicate voices, likenesses, and creative outputs without consent undermines the very individuality and artistry that define musicians and performers. Each artist’s voice and image are not mere commodities, but deeply personal elements that constitute their brand and legacy.

Key stakeholders including artists, record labels, streaming services, and technology developers must collaborate to establish robust regulations and industry standards that safeguard the rights of artists against unauthorized AI reproductions. Legislation should mandate explicit, informed consent from artists before their voices or likenesses can be used by AI technologies. Furthermore, transparency needs to be heightened within platforms to ensure creators and listeners are aware of when AI-based technology is in use, preserving authenticity in creative expressions.

The time to act is now. Failure to adequately address this issue threatens the integrity of our cultural products and the rights of those who create them. By signing this petition, you will help propel necessary dialogue and policy changes that will ensure the protection of our esteemed artists and their invaluable contributions to the world of music. Stand with us to demand a future where innovation coexists with respect for artistic ownership and creative integrity.