In brief
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has introduced a new rule that bars songs largely produced by AI from appearing on its official charts. Only tracks that include substantial human authorship and performance will qualify, while AI may still aid in production and mastering. This move follows a controversy involving AI‑generated cover of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" that topped the ARIA dance chart. International bodies such as the IFPI are moving to adopt similar guidelines, and Australian artists such as Peking Duk have supported protecting human artistry. Artists will now have to declare AI use, and ARIA reserves the right to adjust chart positions retroactively.
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced that, effective immediately, songs that are largely or wholly created by artificial intelligence will no longer be eligible for placement on Australian music charts.
Each release that wishes to appear on ARIA’s charts must contain substantial human contribution, whether in songwriting, lyric writing, or the main performance.
While the new policy excludes AI‑generated tracks, ARIA clarified that using AI for auxiliary tasks—such as music mastering, rhythm programming or autotuning—remains permissible. Human artists continue to retain the right to employ AI as a tool, but AI must not be the primary creative driver behind a track that enters the charts.
This decision follows a high‑profile case involving Australian DJ Josh Fawaz, whose AI‑enhanced cover of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" had topped the ARIA dance singles chart and reached number two on the overall chart. The song amassed more than 48 million streams on Spotify and was widely played on commercial radio stations. After backlash, Fawaz added AI credits to the track, but ARIA’s new guidelines treat it as ineligible for future chart consideration.
ARIA’s chief executive Annabelle Herd said the reforms aim to "promote the human nature of artistry" in a market she described as “the most crowded in history.” Herd added, "The charts can and should evolve to keep room for AI‐assisted music, but music generated wholesale by services built on artists’ recordings is a different matter because it undermines the recorded music industry we represent."
Under the updated policy, artists must declare any AI use when submitting a track for chart consideration. If a release is later found to be primarily AI‑generated, ARIA could retroactively adjust its chart position and potentially request the return of any awards tied to a number‑one placement.
The regulation comes amid worldwide moves to address AI in music. Sweden had already banned an AI‑created song from its charts earlier this year, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced that similar guidelines will be introduced in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Artists backing the change include Peking Duk, who declared that re‑recording an older hit with AI “removes the human experience from life.” The Australian government has also expressed support: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised a "strongest possible protection" for creatives, stating that writers and musicians would control how their work is used to train AI systems and that it would be “theft” if creatives were not paid for such use.
For those curious about the broader debate, see What is the impact of AI on radio broadcasting?
