The rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) threatens to upend the income streams of musicians and audiovisual creators, according to a new study commissioned by the Paris-based International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).

The report, conducted by consultancy firm PMP Strategy, warns that by 2028, creators in the music and audiovisual sectors could face a cumulative income loss of €22 billion (AUD$36b) as AI-generated content gains market dominance. The findings underscore the urgency of regulatory intervention to ensure fair compensation for creators whose works are being used without authorisation to train AI systems.

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Growing market, shrinking revenues

The study forecasts that by 2028, Gen AI-generated music will account for 20 percent of streaming platform revenues and 60% of music library revenues. This surge is expected to replace a significant share of traditional content, putting 24 percent of music creators’ revenues at risk – equating to an annual loss of €4 billion (AUD$6.5b) by 2028.

Similarly, audiovisual creators could see 21 percent of their revenues jeopardised by AI-generated videos, with the total market value of AI-driven audiovisual outputs projected to reach €48 billion. Translators, adaptors,...