Music Workers Alliance & Indie Musicians Caucus
AI Webinar
Generative AI’s impact on Musicians (and other creative workers):
a Union and Legislative Response
On September 18, 2024 MWA hosted a webinar featuring experts on Artificial Intelligence, advocates of pro-artist AI regulation, and labor activists discussing the impact of Generative AI and outlining how musicians can protect our livelihoods and art forms through union and legislative action.
This event was cosponsored by:
Take Action
Legislation to support:
“NO FAKES” ACT: https://www.humanartistrycampaign.com/nofakesact
“GENERATIVE AI COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE” ACT: https://schiff.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-schiff-introduces-groundbreaking-bill-to-create-ai-transparency-between-creators-and-companies
“PROTECT WORKING MUSICIANS” ACT: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5576 which has been expanded to cover AI firms in addition to dominant streaming services.
“COPIED” ACT (Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media): https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4674/text which "prohibits any person from using covered content to train an AI system or algorithm without the express consent of the person who owns the covered content.”
Our Panelists:
Lauren Goodlad
Distinguished Professor, chair of the Critical AI at Rutgers initiative, and the editor of Critical AI, an interdisciplinary journal published by Duke University Press. A specialist in teaching critical AI literacies, Goodlad has discussed the topic in numerous essays, podcasts, and presentations. For an example of her writing on "generative AI," see "Now the Humanities Can Disrupt AI," co-authored with Sam Baker. At Rutgers, she is the lead PI for DESIGN JUSTICE LABS, an NEH-supported project focused on developing resources and tools for educators and others devoted to teaching critical AI literacies.
Brian Merchant
Brian has been technology columnist at the Los Angeles Times and a senior editor at Motherboard (RIP). He is the author of "The One Device: the Secret History of the iPhone" (2017, Little, Brown) and "Blood in the Machine: the Origins of the Rebellion against Big Tech" (2023, Little, Brown), and a founder of VICE’s speculative fiction outlet.
Kevin Erickson
Kevin is the Executive Director of the musicians advocacy organization: Future of Music Coalition.
Marc Ribot
(guitarist) Ribot has recorded with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, and many others, and produced 27 of his own recordings (see: Marcribot.com). He is a founding member of the Music Workers Alliance, Indie Musicians Caucus of the AFM, Content Creators Coalition (C3, now Artist Rights Alliance), and Local 802/AFM's "Winter Jazz Festival Organizing Committee".
Jerome Harris
MWA President, Moderator.