Creative Rights vs. AI: Two Alarming Moves Shake the Music Industry

This week, tensions between tech and copyright hit a boiling point. SoundCloud updated its terms of use with language suggesting user content could be used for AI training—sparking immediate backlash from artists. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump fired the top U.S. copyright official, raising red flags about the future of intellectual property policy in the age of artificial intelligence. For creators, musicians, and rights holders, these headlines point to a deeper question: who really controls your work in the AI era?

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ChaseLawyers Newsletter
May 13, 2025

Hi there,

This week’s stories reflect a growing unease across the creative world. First, SoundCloud quietly added language to its terms that left many artists fearing their music might be used to train AI — without consent or compensation. Then, in a surprise move, Donald Trump fired the U.S. Register of Copyrights, a key figure in shaping how the law responds to these exact challenges. Both events raise the same concern: as AI reshapes the industry, are creators being left behind?

SoundCloud Sparks Outrage Over AI Training Clause

SoundCloud recently updated its terms of use with a clause that appeared to grant the company rights to use uploaded music for training artificial intelligence. Artists were quick to voice concerns, fearing their tracks could be fed into machine learning models without permission or pay. In response, SoundCloud issued a clarification: they are not using user content for AI training, nor do they plan to — and promised any future use would be opt-in. Still, the controversy reveals how quickly trust can erode when artists feel excluded from decisions about how their work is used in emerging technologies.

In a move that sent shockwaves through the music and publishing industries, Donald Trump dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the U.S. Register of Copyrights. The timing and manner of her removal raised immediate concern among rights advocates, particularly as the Register plays a key role in shaping how copyright law adapts to AI-generated works. Industry leaders worry the firing could signal a push for looser protections — especially as policymakers grapple with how to regulate creative output generated or influenced by artificial intelligence. With tensions around ownership and control already high, this development adds another layer of uncertainty for creators.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SoundCloud Addresses Terms of Use Allowing AI Training on Uploaded Music

After updating its terms of use to suggest AI training rights, SoundCloud faced swift pushback from artists. The platform later clarified it won’t use user content for AI without permission.

Donald Trump fires top US copyright official

Donald Trump has fired the U.S. Register of Copyrights, sparking fears about the future of music rights and AI regulation. The unexpected move has drawn sharp criticism from artists and publishers.

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