Neil Young announces plans to remove his music from Amazon, citing concerns over government policies on AI and copyright following the Trump administration's firing of the U.S. copyright chief.
October 11, 2025
Source:
Rolling Stone
Musician Signals Streaming Protest
Neil Young has declared he will remove his music from Amazon Music, citing objections to the U.S. government's recent stance on copyright and artificial intelligence (AI). The announcement follows this week's firing of Shira Perlmutter, the U.S. Register of Copyrights, after a critical report from her office on unlicensed AI training using copyrighted material.
Industry Response to Copyright Changes
Copyright Community Alarm: Music rightsholders, led by Sir Paul McCartney, have voiced strong concerns about the removal of Perlmutter and weakening of protections for creators.
Role of AI: The report indicated that using copyrighted music to train AI exceeds fair use and harms artists financially, posing new threats to genuine artistry. Read more at Music Business Worldwide.
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Source:
Rolling Stone
Political and Legal Friction Over Music
The Trump administration has faced criticism for reshaping copyright enforcement in ways artists fear may benefit tech interests over creators.
Artist Actions and Political Backlash
High-profile musicians have previously taken legal steps to stop their work from being used without permission by political campaigns, a trend seen repeatedly during Trump’s events. More on artists' legal rights can be found at Wikipedia.
Current U.S. copyright law leaves limited avenues for musicians to block political use, adding to their frustration.
Streaming Impact
Studies show that political association can cause a drop in streaming figures, affecting artists financially and reputationally, especially those still building their brands.
Read More
Source:
Billboard
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