AI, Copyright and the Future of Production Music: A Turning Point for Our Industry

The UK Government’s recent Copyright and AI Impact Assessment has confirmed what many of us in the production music industry have already sensed: we are entering a period of structural change, where the value of music is no longer defined solely by usage, but increasingly by its role as data.

One of the most striking realities is that AI development has not waited for policy to catch up. AI models are already being trained on vast amounts of content, including copyrighted works. The debate is no longer about whether this is happening, but how it is governed, and crucially, how rights holders are compensated.

At present, licensing activity is emerging, but unevenly distributed. Deals are largely being struck between major rightsholders and major AI developers, often focused on high-value or restricted datasets. Independent catalogues, which make up a significant portion of the production music sector, are at risk of being marginalised unless the market evolves.

The government’s report highlights three core challenges:

• Lack of transparency around what data is used to train AI models

• Limited control for rights holders over how their content is accessed

• Fragmented or inconsistent metadata and ownership frameworks

For production music, this is particularly significant. Our industry has always relied on structured metadata, clear rights ownership, and efficient licensing. In many ways, we are better placed than other sectors to respond, but only if we adapt quickly. Metadata is no longer just a discovery tool, it is becoming the infrastructure through which value is tracked, attributed, and ultimately monetised.

The government has outlined four potential approaches, ranging from strict licensing requirements to broad exceptions allowing AI training without permission. While no decision has been made, the most likely outcome is a hybrid model where AI systems may be able to use content unless rights are actively reserved, combined with increased transparency requirements.

This shift challenges a fundamental assumption in our industry. Traditionally, value has been realised at the point of sync. But AI introduces a parallel chain, where music is not only consumed, but analysed, learned from, and embedded into systems and this creates new questions. How do we license music for training, not just usage? How do we ensure attribution and remuneration at scale? How do we technically control access to our catalogues?

Production music libraries that can answer these questions will be well positioned for the next phase of the market. Whilst there is uncertainty, there is a clear opportunity. The production music sector is uniquely structured, with clearly defined rights ownership, established licensing frameworks and rich metadata.

At MediaTracks, our recent work with Cyanite and Marmoset exploring AI transparency and contextual metadata reflects this direction. Understanding how music is described, discovered, and contextualised is no longer just about better search, it is about ensuring that value flows correctly in an AI-driven ecosystem.

The policy landscape is still evolving, but the direction is clear.  Transparency will increase, licensing models will evolve and control mechanisms will become more important.

For production music, the question is not whether AI will impact the industry, but how proactively we respond. Those who invest now in metadata, rights clarity, and licensing infrastructure will not only protect their catalogues, but unlock entirely new revenue streams.

---

MediaTracks is an independent, family-owned production music label that has spent nearly three decades putting music and relationships first. Based at TYX Studios in London’s Tileyard, they have grown from a composer-led vision into a global operation with over 500 albums and representation in dozens of countries. Their  "quality-first" philosophy is matched by a modern commitment to building a more inclusive and transparent industry, ensuring that as the market evolves, the human artistry behind the music remains protected, properly attributed, and positioned for growth.