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Paul McCartney Adds Near-Silent ‘Bonus Track’ to Anti‑AI Album Before Limited Vinyl Release

Artists warn proposed UK copyright changes would permit AI training on music without consent.

Overview

  • The 2:45 track, titled “(Bonus Track),” joins the protest compilation Is This What We Want? and consists of near-silent studio noise.
  • A limited vinyl pressing is due on December 8 with profits pledged to the charity Help Musicians, with reports indicating 1,000 copies.
  • More than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush, Hans Zimmer and Sam Fender, contributed near-silent recordings to highlight the threat they see from unlicensed AI training.
  • The album’s one‑word track titles spell the message, “The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.”
  • A government spokesperson says ministers are working with creatives and the AI sector to balance innovation with protections, with substantive parliamentary debate not expected before 2026.