The impact of AI on music creators.

More than a third of respondents (37.1%) indicated that they have little or no understanding of AI, while a further third described their knowledge as moderate. By contrast, only 6.4% considered themselves highly knowledgeable.

ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used AI tool, with members primarily using it for idea generation, drafting and administrative support. Notably, 34.3% of respondents reported using Suno.ai, a generative AI platform capable of creating complete musical works, highlighting the growing accessibility of AI-powered music creation tools. At the same time, 35% of respondents indicated that they had not used any AI tools.

77.5% of respondents indicated that they have not used AI in any works notified to SAMRO. However, 10.8% reported using AI-assisted works without notifying SAMRO. This highlights the need for clear policies, guidance and communication on the disclosure of AI-assisted works, ensuring members understand their obligations as AI becomes increasingly integrated into music creation.

Among respondents who use AI, mixing and mastering (11%) emerged as the most common use, followed by beat-making (8.6%), songwriting (6.3%) and lyric generation (4.6%). AI's growing role in the creative process raises important questions around authorship, ownership and rights administration.

The findings indicate a high level of concern among members regarding the impact of AI on the music industry. More than half of respondents (52.2%) rated AI as a major threat (5 out of 5), while 65% viewed it as a high or extreme threat (ratings of 4 or 5). By comparison, only 19.3% perceived AI as posing a low threat. These results suggest that many music creators view AI as a significant challenge to their livelihoods and rights, reinforcing the need for SAMRO to prioritise education, advocacy and policy development to ensure creators are equipped to navigate an increasingly AI-driven music ecosystem.

Despite widespread concerns about AI, respondents also recognised its potential benefits. Just over half (51.2%) believe AI could create opportunities for music creators, while 24.5% saw it solely as a threat and 24.3% remained uncertain. These findings suggest that members hold a balanced view of AI, acknowledging both its opportunities and its risks.

Members expressed a clear preference for regulation over prohibition. Nearly half (49.1%) believe AI-generated music should be regulated with appropriate protections for human creators, while 23% support a complete ban and 18% believe AI should be embraced as part of the creative evolution. Overall, 72.1% of respondents favour either regulating or banning AI-generated music, signalling a strong expectation that SAMRO should advocate for a robust regulatory framework that protects the rights and livelihoods of music creators while supporting responsible innovation.

Members' concerns extend beyond copyright to the broader sustainability of creative careers. The greatest concern identified was AI replacing creative jobs (64.1%), followed by the unauthorised use of voices and creative works (56.8%), loss of income and royalties (54.4%), and the lack of consent or credit for original creators (52.8%). A further 38% of respondents expressed concern that Africa is underrepresented in global AI regulatory discussions. These findings highlight the need for SAMRO to advocate for stronger legal protections, fair remuneration, informed consent and greater African participation in shaping the future governance of AI in the music industry.

58.4% of respondents were aware that South Africa does not yet have legislation specifically regulating AI, while 41.6% were not. This reinforces the need for greater awareness of the evolving legal landscape. It also underscores the importance of SAMRO continuing to advocate for an appropriate legal and regulatory framework, while developing interim policies and guidance to help protect members' rights as AI adoption accelerates.

There is overwhelming support for SAMRO to play an advocacy role in shaping AI regulation. 89.2% of respondents believe SAMRO should advocate for legislation to protect music creators from the misuse of AI, while only 3.8% disagreed.

Respondents expressed strong support for accountability measures that protect the rights of music creators. The most widely supported measures were crediting original artists (69.8%) and paying licence fees for the use of copyrighted works (68.5%), followed by copyright limitations on AI (53.6%), industry-led guidelines (49.4%) and national policies (42.7%). These findings indicate that members favour a balanced approach combining legal protections, fair remuneration and industry standards to ensure AI is deployed responsibly within the music ecosystem.

The findings show that AI is compounding existing challenges rather than creating entirely new ones. Members identified limited royalty tracking and distribution (62.8%) as their greatest challenge, followed by lack of legal literacy (43%), the absence of African discovery platforms (42%), limited recognition of African music by global systems (41.5%), and exploitation by intermediaries (40.3%). These results highlight the need for AI interventions that also address the broader structural challenges facing African music creators.

More than 76% of respondents believe African music creators are at a disadvantage in the global AI landscape. Key concerns include the underrepresentation of African music in AI training datasets (38%) and a lack of legal protections compared with global markets (43%). These findings underscore the need for stronger advocacy to ensure African music, creators and cultural expression are fairly represented, protected and recognised in the development and governance of AI technologies.

Members expressed a strong appetite for AI education and practical guidance. The highest priority is understanding SAMRO's response to AI (78.9%), followed by copyright protection (71.6%) and AI's impact on royalties (70.8%). More than half also want guidance on South Africa's legal framework (55%) and how to use AI responsibly in music creation (50.5%). These findings reinforce the need for a comprehensive member education programme that combines legal awareness, practical skills and ongoing communication as AI continues to reshape the music industry.

Members demonstrated a strong willingness to engage with AI education initiatives. 66.9% indicated they would definitely attend a SAMRO AI webinar or workshop, while a further 23.5% said they would likely participate. With 90.4% expressing interest overall, the findings highlight a clear opportunity for SAMRO to deliver targeted education and capacity-building programmes that equip members to navigate the evolving AI landscape.