Paul McCartney has told fans who is ripping off The Beatles in a new video.
Paul McCartney, the living legend, the songwriter who changed the world, has never been one to shy away from a fight. And now, at 82, he’s taking on what might be his biggest battle yet—protecting the future of music from artificial intelligence. In a recent interview with the BBC, Sir Paul opened up about his concerns over AI and its impact on young artists.
McCartney isn’t against AI—far from it. He’s already used it to help restore John Lennon’s voice for The Beatles’ Now and Then, a track that turned an old demo into a Grammy-nominated song. But what he’s not okay with? Tech giants profiting off the work of artists without giving them a dime. The timing of McCartney’s statement isn’t random. The UK government is currently considering changes to copyright laws that could weaken protections for artists, allowing tech companies to train AI models on music without the creator’s permission—unless they specifically opt out.
“You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it,” he observed. “They don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off,” the 82-year-old said in an interview broadcast Sunday.
“The truth is, the money’s going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn’t be some tech giant somewhere.”
Elton John has backed Paul McCartney over his criticism towards AI in proposed changes to copyright law.
Speaking in an an interview on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg,the former Beatles member spoke out against the proposed changes, saying they could remove the monetary incentive for artists to create work and cause a “loss of creativity.”
He said: “You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it, and they don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off.”
He continued: “We’re the people, you’re the government! You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job. So you know, if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.”
