UK policy documents discuss how AI interacts with creative works, licensing and digital replicas. Those are related questions, but they should not be treated as a single blanket rule about every use of music.
AI music rights and the consultation history
The earlier copyright and AI consultation explored options for training-data access and rights reservations. The government’s March 2026 report says a broad exception with an opt-out is no longer its preferred way forward, and describes further evidence gathering and alternatives. An older consultation option should not be presented as an enacted permission for every music-training use.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence
Licensing and transparency address different needs
The report discusses helping right holders control and license work and improving transparency about model-training inputs. Those policy aims concern access to protected works and the ability to understand their use. They do not establish that an individual artist’s catalogue was used by every AI service, or decide whether a particular copy was permitted.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence
A voice replica is a distinct question
The report separately considers digital replicas of appearance and voice and possible additional protections. Existing rights and agreements can matter, but the report does not create a universal personality right over every possible imitation. Distinguishing a recording, a composition, a performance and a replica helps keep the policy discussion tied to the actual use.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence
Sources and further reading
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence