In the post-digital era, where digitisation has transformed every aspect of life and has reshaped industries, the role of ethics in innovative technologies has become increasingly critical. It requires deep and collective reflections on the impact on both individuals and ecosystems. Technology has the power to shape behaviours, influence economies, and alter social norms, requiring a proactive common understanding and ethical frameworks to ensure that the advancement of innovative technologies maximises human potential while safeguarding against unintended negative consequences, creating a balanced, equitable, and humane future.
The music sector stands as a prime example of how innovative technologies are transforming the landscape: with advancements in AI, including GenAI, streaming platforms, and production tools, technology has revolutionised music creation, distribution, and consumption. While these innovations provide clear benefits - such as democratising access to music, enabling new forms of creativity, and creating global platforms for artists - their integration into the fabric of the sector, and of creativity in general, raises important ethical and legal questions. These include questions about authorship and originality in the digital age, transparency, the use of AI and related remuneration aspects, and about discovery and exposure to European diverse voices and genres. Ethical considerations must address issues like appropriate remuneration for creators, the impact of AI on creators and their artistic expression, and the role of platforms to help foster a diverse and inclusive music ecosystem. In this context, ethics in innovative technologies is about ensuring that the evolution of the music sector benefits both creators and consumers/the public at large, while safeguarding the cultural richness of music, and society, itself.