Australia's music charts implement ban on AI-generated songs

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has announced stringent new guidelines that will ban AI-generated music from the top music charts starting from Friday. The primary objective of these regulations is to safeguard the human essence of artistic creation. According to the ARIA, a track must be predominantly human-made to qualify for the ARIA Charts. Wholly AI-generated songs will not be eligible for inclusion in these charts.

The ARIA elaborated that charts will exclude songs where AI is used to create the entire or primary creative elements. However, recordings that employ generative AI in a supportive role will still be eligible. This stance responds to the escalating apprehension within the music sector about the influx of AI-generated music.

In July, a Madonna song cover, which was partially generated by AI, topped the Australian charts, sparking controversy due to its usage of AI-generated vocals and drums. Streaming giant Spotify has unveiled plans to introduce an "AI Persona" badge, distinctly identifying AI-generated content, thus differentiating it from work by real artists. A significant portion of new uploads to Apple Music are entirely AI-created, as reported by a platform executive in the previous year.

Several major music industry bodies recently introduced a labeling system for AI-generated content, hoping for broader adoption. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd emphasized that these changes are aimed at maintaining the dynamic nature of the industry and the human-centric aspect of art. She stressed that the ARIA Charts will continue to accurately reflect the music consumed in Australia, but a chart that rewards unlicensed AI output could undermine the very essence of the recorded music industry.