The American Federation of Musicians has launched “Human Made, Human Paid,” a campaign seeking consent, credit and compensation when musicians’ work is used for AI development and music generation. The union is pressing for binding protections in its next Sound Recording Labor Agreement, with negotiations involving Universal Music Group, Sony, Warner and Hollywood Records scheduled to resume November 3.
The campaign includes a public petition supporting the union’s bargaining position. AFM says its goal is to protect musicians’ rights as technology develops, rather than oppose music-making tools. The negotiations put a practical question before the labels: what approval, attribution and payment should the musicians who performed on recordings receive when those recordings become part of AI deals? These remain bargaining demands, not newly agreed contract terms.
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