One of the most frequently played songs on Australian radio last month may face exclusion from official charts due to recent regulations established by the Australian music industry. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) declared that tracks entirely created by artificial intelligence will no longer qualify for the country’s official music charts.
According to an ARIA spokesperson, Andrew Knowles, the association now requires recordings to be predominantly human-made to be considered for the ARIA charts. Tracks heavily reliant on generative AI for creative elements, especially lead vocals or primary instruments prompted by AI rather than human input, will be ineligible. However, recordings where AI complements human performances will still meet the criteria.
In addition, ARIA will monitor and potentially remove recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts to ensure compliance with copyright laws. Tracks produced by generative AI will also be ineligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards. ARIA’s chief executive, Annabelle Herd, emphasized the importance of promoting the human aspect of artistry in a rapidly evolving music landscape.
The decision follows the success of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” featuring AI-generated vocals and drums, on the ARIA charts. Despite spending significant time in the Top 20 Australian Singles chart, the track faced criticism for its use of generative AI. Music producer Mitch Thomas publicly criticized Fawaz, alleging that his music was entirely AI-generated using the platform Suno.
Fawaz defended his work, stating that AI was a tool rather than the sole creator of his music. The new regulations will take effect next Monday, removing wholly AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts while allowing AI-assisted music to remain eligible. ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the revised eligibility criteria based on information provided by the artist.