Why copyright changes could reimagine how artists are paid

Why copyright changes could reimagine how artists are paid

New concerns have been raised by Australian musicians over the use of their music by generative AI companies without compensation. An RMIT expert says while protecting copyright remains important, the discussion creates an opportunity to rethink how artists are valued and paid.

Dr Sam Whiting, School of Media and Communication:

“These concerns follow two recent revelations. Firstly, that thousands of iconic songs by Australian artists have been used by AI companies without consent, without a licence, and without payment.  

“Secondly, unverified claims that the Australian government is considering a scheme that would weaken Australian copyright law, in favour of AI companies investing in data centres and providing millions of dollars annually to fund creative workers.  

"Artists and rights holders currently have little leverage in the fight against AI. Now a compromise is being offered, albeit an extremely uneven one, which would do away with over a hundred years of intellectual property rights. 

“While copyright is to be defended, it is also worth considering other ways of measuring the value of artists and their contribution to society.  

“This presents an opportunity to elevate the labour of artists, rather than simply the speculative value of their intellectual property, to a position where they might be renumerated directly via a salary.  

“Such a scheme should also be accompanied by local licensing agreements that properly compensate rights holders for the use of their material by AI companies, such as that currently advocated by APRA AMCOS"  

“Either way, the debate around AI and music should not just be a case of defending the status quo, but an opportunity to reimagine the role of arts and culture in our lives more broadly.” 

Sam Whiting is a Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University and a 2024 Churchill Fellows. His published work is primarily focused on issues of capital, labour, and value as they relate to the creative industries and the cultural economy, specifically the political economy of the music industries.

***

General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

08 July 2026

Share

Return to RMIT News
08 July 2026

Share

Engage

Related News

Photobooth on campus

When the photobooth debuted 100 years ago, it didn’t have a curtain

100 years ago this week the first photobooth debuted on Broadway. An RMIT expert explains the cultural significance behind these machines and how the ways we use them have changed over the years.

social media

Spotting AI-generated political content ahead of the Vic state election

An ABC investigation this week revealed a seemingly Australian political commentator was in fact a Brazilian content creator using AI generated content. An RMIT expert says this is a timely reminder that Victorians should be cautious about trusting everything they see and hear online ahead of the state election, and how to best spot fake content.

Clothing store

Cue and Veronika Maine go into receivership: Why brand legacy isn't enough in today's retail market

Cue and Veronika Maine are the latest retailers to fall into receivership. An RMIT expert says their collapse isn’t about fashion trends, but about the changing economics of retail. 

Kids using tablet and smartphone

Managing screen time during school holidays

With school holidays approaching and the NSW Government announcing new limits on screen use for learning in public schools, an RMIT education expert says families should also be thinking about how they manage screen time at home.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information