Legendary musician Paul McCartney is making a bold statement — but this time he’s hardly making any sound at all.
What’s going on?
McCartney is contributing a nearly silent track to a protest album called Is This What We Want?, which is being released on vinyl on 8 December 2025.
The album includes over 1,000 musicians and the tracks are made up of studio hiss, ambient noise and very little actual
McCartney’s own contribution is called “(Bonus Track)” and plays on the B-side of the record.
Why silence?
It’s a protest. The point: if artists’ rights are ignored, the music itself may end up “silent”. McCartney and his fellow contributors want to draw attention to proposed changes in UK copyright law that could allow AI companies to train on existing music without permission or fair compensation.
McCartney has also spoken out, warning that AI could “rip off” artists if safeguards aren’t put in place.
What are the law changes they’re protesting?
The UK government is proposing an “opt-out” system for copyright, meaning that unless creators actively say no, tech and AI companies might be able to use their work for training AI models without specific licence or payment.
Artists say this flips the balance wrong way: they believe it would favour big tech over creators, especially the young or emerging ones. McCartney said that for many young writers and composers, this might be their only way to make a career, and they should be protected.
Why this matters
McCartney is a high-profile voice, so his involvement shines a brighter spotlight on the issue.
The idea of a silent protest song is unusual in itself, and that “absence of sound” becomes a metaphor for artists losing their voices.
It raises questions about how music, creativity and emerging technologies like AI should coexist.
A note for Nepal and everywhere else
Even if you’re in Kathmandu or anywhere outside the UK, this matters. Music and creative work travel globally now, thanks to streaming, social media and digital sharing. If laws change in one country, they can create precedents that affect creators worldwide. Emerging musicians, songwriters and producers everywhere need to stay aware of how these issues evolve.
Final thoughts
McCartney’s silent track isn’t about being quiet for the sake of it — it’s about making noise through stillness. It’s a call to value creators and protect the future of music.
Would you like me to pull the full list of participating artists and the track-titles for the protest album so you can see who else is involved?