Editors’ note: This is part of the Op-Eds From the Future series, in which science fiction authors, futurists, philosophers and scientists write Op-Eds that they imagine we might read five, 10, 50 or even 200 years from now. The challenges they predict are imaginary — for now — but their arguments illuminate the urgent questions of today and prepare us for tomorrow. The Opinion piece below is a work of fiction.

Last week, The Times broke the news that Alyssa Nico’s booking at the Tokyo Dome was canceled, and with it, her world tour. The band that bumped her? The Beatles, whose last living member, Ringo Starr, died in 2029. In response, the pop megastar (who is also known as Neko) said, “How am I supposed to compete with dead people?”

The use of simulations in the music industry has made it difficult for living artists to make music and nearly impossible for new musicians to break onto the scene. To ensure the future of music, Congress must pass the Living Artists Act, which will guarantee a 25 percent set-aside in performance venues and online subscription service play for artists who still draw breath.

The A.I.-generated 3-D projections of deceased performers — also known as Estates — now have an edge over living artists. Musicians like Neko are forced to compete with realistic simulations of their heroes for appearances in stadiums, music venues and private parties thrown by wealthy patrons.