AI Music Banned From Australian Charts

Australia's peak music industry body has moved to exclude fully AI-generated music from the country's official charts, following controversy surrounding an AI-assisted cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" that became a major radio hit.

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced on Tuesday that songs created entirely by artificial intelligence will no longer qualify for inclusion in the ARIA Charts. However, recordings that use generative AI as a supporting production tool will remain eligible.

Under the new rules, music involving generative AI must be "substantially human made" and must not raise concerns about streaming practices or attempts to manipulate chart results.

ARIA said the changes were designed to protect the credibility of the charts as the use of AI in music expands and becomes increasingly difficult for listeners to identify.

"The ARIA charts will always remain a transparent measurement of the music Australia consumes," ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said. She warned that rewarding unlicensed AI-generated material could undermine the purpose of the recorded music industry.

The ARIA Charts rank Australia's most popular songs and albums and are published each Friday through major streaming services including Apple Music and Spotify.

The policy follows controversy surrounding Queensland DJ Josh Fawaz's version of Madonna's 1989 hit "Like a Prayer".

Some music producers alleged that generative AI was used in the recording and that this was not initially disclosed. The track subsequently became the most-played song on Australian radio and climbed to No. 4 on two ARIA charts in July.

Representatives for Madonna at Warner Records did not immediately respond to requests for comment made outside normal business hours.

Government Under Pressure

The Australian music industry's move comes amid growing international debate over the impact of artificial intelligence on musicians, songwriters and producers.

Artists and industry representatives have urged governments to introduce stronger protections for creative works, particularly as AI platforms such as Suno make it possible to produce music with limited human involvement.

Critics argue that such technology can allow music to be created without appropriate recognition, compensation or consent from artists whose work and creative styles may influence AI-generated output.

Major international record companies are also pursuing new licensing agreements intended to protect their extensive music catalogues as AI-generated music becomes more widespread.

The rapid growth of AI music has also raised concerns among consumers, many of whom are finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish between recordings created by human musicians and those generated largely by artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month said the Australian Government would take action to ensure creative professionals retain ownership of their work.

ARIA's new eligibility rules represent one of the clearest steps yet by Australia's music industry to establish boundaries around AI-generated recordings and their place in the country's official music rankings.