Forum: AI innovation must respect the rights of music creators

Artificial intelligence promises enormous benefits to society. It is transforming healthcare, education, research and the creative industries. Singapore should continue to embrace AI innovation and position itself as a trusted global AI hub.

However, innovation should not come at the expense of creators whose works form the foundation upon which many AI systems are built.

Many composers and songwriters willingly make their music available for the public to enjoy through streaming platforms, broadcasts and other legitimate channels. That should not automatically mean they have consented to their works being used to train commercial AI models.

This issue has attracted international attention. News articles reported that, on July 31, 2026, the Munich Regional Court in Germany ruled that AI music company Suno had infringed copyright by processing and training its AI models using songs represented by GEMA, Germany’s music rights organisation, without authorisation. The court ordered Suno to disclose revenues derived from the infringement and to pay damages, although the decision remains subject to appeal.

The German case highlights a broader global question. Creators deserve greater transparency. They should know whether their copyrighted works have been used for AI training, by whom, and for what purpose. Where copyrighted works are used, there should also be appropriate licensing mechanisms and fair remuneration. These are long-established principles that have enabled creativity and innovation to coexist in the music industry for decades.

Singapore has earned an international reputation for respecting intellectual property. As AI technology develops rapidly, there is an opportunity to continue that leadership by developing a balanced framework that encourages innovation while safeguarding the legitimate interests of creators.

This is not about resisting AI. Many creators are themselves enthusiastic users of AI. It is about ensuring that technological progress remains fair, transparent and sustainable.

I hope Singapore will bring together creators, AI developers, policymakers and collective management organisations to develop a practical licensing framework for the responsible use of copyrighted works in AI training. Such a framework should promote innovation while ensuring creators receive transparency, recognition and fair remuneration. The future of AI and the future of creativity need not be in conflict. With thoughtful policies, both can flourish together.

Edmund Lam
Chief Executive Officer
COMPASS (Composers and Authors Society of Singapore)