They show that AI could reduce authors’ royalties in Spain by as much as 28% by 2028 - equal to €100 million in that year alone, and €160-180 million between 2025 and 2028 highlighting the urgent need to adopt legislative regulation.
The study also finds that 34% of Spanish creators are already using AI tools, with a further 17% intending to do so soon. These figures highlight both the scale of the challenge and the speed with which changes are occurring.
By quantifying these risks and calling for regulation to safeguarding human-made works, SGAE provides evidence and leadership at national level. The study reflects the concerns of Spanish creators and helps shape the next steps in policymaking, so that AI does not threaten, but rather supports and is an integrated element of the human creative process.
The authors of the study see AI as a powerful but deeply disruptive force in music and the creative industries in general, expressing strong concerns about its impact on creation, rights and the authenticity of artistic expression. They call on policymakers to act quickly and decisively to protect human creativity and the creators’ rights, without hindering technological innovation.
The main concerns of Spanish creators:
• Creators fear that creative AI threatens to significantly reduce creators' rights - estimating a loss of up to 28% by 2028 in Spain, equivalent to €100 million in a single year, and €160-180 between 2025 and 2028.
• There is concern about the loss of human control over the creative process, the loss of authenticity of emotional expression and the possibility of standardization of artistic production, as machines take on ever greater roles in creation.
• Legal and ethical questions arise regarding the unlicensed use of copyrighted material to train AI tools, highlighting the need for clear mechanisms for consent and fair remuneration.
What they plan to do:
• The study calls for immediate regulatory action, with three key priorities for policymakers:
1. Transparency in the use of creative works by AI systems
2. Consent and licensing for works used in training AI models
3. Fair remuneration for creators of these works
• SGAE and CISAC are ready to offer collective licenses to ensure the legal training of AI models and the fair remuneration of creators, taking a leading role in planning protective legislation and educational initiatives.
• The creative sector aims to continuously monitor the spread of AI tools, to distinguish between technology-assisted music and fully machine-generated music. as well as to promote regulatory frameworks that will ensure an inviolable space for human creativity in the face of automation.
What is useful for professionals in the field:
• 1/3 of Spanish music creators have already used AI tools, and a further 17% intend to do so soon, which shows rapid adoption, but also a variety of attitudes: from enthusiastic adoption to reluctant acceptance or even rejection.
• The study identifies four behavioral categories: ‘Symbiotic’ (actively collaborating with AI systems), ‘Inspired’ (positive, but have not yet used AI), ‘Reactive’ (adapting out of necessity), and ‘Industrial’ (seeing it as a technical tool)
• The majority agree that live music and traditional musical genres are less vulnerable to automation and that human creativity remains irreplaceable – especially for conveying emotions and connecting with audiences.
• Creators are calling for clear legislation, industry adaptation and institutional support to prevent AI from undermining their incomes and the cultural role of human creative expression.
The study sounds the alarm about the financial losses of creators, presenting clear legislative requirements, while at the same time including a detailed picture of how AI is transforming music, proposing initiatives to adapt to new developments, as well as solutions to protect human creativity.
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