Demonstrations will take place in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin on May 19th.
Photo credit: We Need a Union – Instagram
Musician advocacy groups across the US are organizing a series of protests against potential agreements between major labels and generative AI companies. Operating under the banner ‘NO AI SELLOUT,’ demonstrations are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin.
The actions are being organized by the Music Workers Alliance, Austin Texas Musicians Association, and the Independent Musicians Caucus of the AFM in support of the American Federation of Musicians as it negotiates with major labels over AI companies’ use of recorded music.
In New York, protesters will gather at Columbus Circle at 3 PM before marching to Universal Music Group’s headquarters, followed by a rally outside Warner Music Group’s offices at 4 PM. Additional events are planned outside the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles and at Far Out Lounge in Austin.
Organizers are calling for labels to reject licensing deals with AI companies trained on unlicensed music, alongside demands for individual artist consent and financial transparency around AI agreements. The protests follow earlier demonstrations held by the Music Workers Alliance in February and come amid growing scrutiny around the music industry’s relationship with AI platforms.
For more information on the protests, visit the official organizers’ channels here.
