Songs created by AI banned from Australia's music charts

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has recently imposed a ban on songs that are primarily or exclusively generated by artificial intelligence from being featured on Australia's music charts, effective immediately. The new rule aims to emphasize the importance of human involvement in the creative process and to protect the integrity of artistic expression.

This decision comes in response to a recent controversy involving a cover of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" by Australian DJ Josh Fawaz, which topped both the ARIA dance singles chart and the country's overall chart. Fawaz later added generative AI credits to the song following criticism, but the ARIA remains firm in its stance against AI-generated music that lacks human artistry.

The association argues that artists are currently competing in the most competitive market in history and are not interested in promoting or celebrating the success of AI-generated music. Under the new regulations, AI assistance is still permissible, provided that humans are responsible for writing the song, performing the lead vocal, and playing the primary instruments.

AI can also still be utilized for mastering songs and employing drum machines and auto-tune. The updated code, which aligns with guidelines from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), also excludes music that raises concerns about stream manipulation or chart inflation. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd stated that these changes are aimed at maintaining the dynamic nature of the music industry while preserving the human essence of artistry.

Artists can now declare the use of AI when submitting their songs for consideration on the charts. If it is later discovered that a song is predominantly AI-generated, ARIA reserves the right to adjust its chart position retrospectively or even retract awards awarded to the top-ranked track.