AI vs Artists: Inside Australia’s growing battle over copyright and big tech

Australia’s music industry is heading into a new kind of fight, and this time, it’s not about streaming payouts or radio play. It’s about AI.

Earlier this month, AI company Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei met with the Australian Government in Canberra, signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting local AI research, skills, and investment.

But behind the photo ops, the real tension is about who owns the content that powers AI systems.

Amodei acknowledged that rights holders have “legitimate claims” over how their work is used, but suggested copyright alone may not fully address the economic impact of AI. That position has raised eyebrows across the music industry.

Annabelle Herd, CEO of ARIA, has warned against any moves that could sidestep creators, criticising the idea of deals that bypass rights holders.

"Anthropic says it will comply with Australian law and is apparently willing to pay for the content it is copying," she said.

"At the same time, it is pushing for a government sweetheart deal that cuts out rights holders and overrides copyright. That's not how the free market works."

Artists are also pushing back. Holly Rankin, known in music circles as Jack River, says AI companies should properly license the work they rely on, arguing the creative industries are open to fair, legal agreements.

Even major labels are weighing in, with Jonathan Dworkin from Universal Music Group stressing that innovation only succeeds when creators are compensated.

“We didn't defeat piracy by turning off the internet. Ultimately, we prevailed because streamers built a better product than piracy. That's what we hope to do with AI.”

At the centre of the policy debate is a controversial proposal from the Business Council of Australia.

A leaked draft submission suggested introducing a concept called “non-expressive use,” which would allow AI companies to train on copyrighted material without it being considered infringement. Critics argue this would effectively remove key copyright protections, as it wouldn’t require compensation or even a fairness test.

So far, the Australian Government has held firm.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has ruled out weakening copyright laws, including rejecting a proposed “text and data mining” exemption that would have allowed AI training on local content without payment.

For now, the message is clear. The Government are standing by creatives, ensuring creators’ rights won’t be easily compromised. But, with billions of dollars, global tech giants, and the future of AI at stake, this fight is only just getting started.

Listen to our full podcast where we break this discussion down even further below.