Australia bans AI-generated music from top charts to protect artistry

Artificial intelligence-generated music will be barred from Australia's top charts under new measures designed to safeguard the human essence of artistic expression, according to an industry body. Effective from Friday, music must demonstrate substantial human involvement to qualify for the charts, announced the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Wholly AI-generated tracks will not meet the criteria for the ARIA Charts, the organization stated. The ARIA Charts will exclude songs where AI generates the entire or primary creative elements. However, recordings utilizing generative AI in a supporting capacity will still be eligible. This decision comes in response to the growing prevalence of AI-generated music in the industry.

In July, a Madonna cover featuring AI-generated vocals and drums topped the Australian charts, sparking controversy. Streaming giant Spotify plans to introduce an "AI Persona" badge to clearly label AI-generated content. More than one-third of new uploads to Apple Music are entirely created using AI, reported a platform executive this year.

Several major music industry organizations recently introduced a labeling system for AI-created content they hope will be widely adopted. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd emphasized the changes reflect their aim to maintain a dynamic approach while promoting the human aspect of artistry in a rapidly evolving landscape. She noted that the ARIA Charts will continue to provide a transparent measure of the music consumed in Australia, but a chart that favors unlicensed AI output would undermine the core of the recorded music they represent.