The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has ruled that music generated entirely by artificial intelligence will no longer be eligible for Australia’s official music charts.
Under the new rules, new music releases must be substantially created by humans to earn a ranking on the charts, a move aimed at preserving the human nature of artistry.
The decision follows controversy over a viral cover of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” by Australian DJ Josh Fawaz, which reached number two on the national chart with 48 million Spotify streams. After widespread airplay and success, Fawaz confirmed that generative AI had been used, sparking debate among listeners.
ARIA said artistes were competing for attention “in the most crowded market in history” and stressed it was “not interested in promoting or celebrating the success of AI‑generated music that does not contain human artistry.”
The rules will allow AI assistance in mixing and mastering, but songwriting, lead vocals, and primary instruments must be performed by humans. Artistes must also declare any AI use when submitting songs for chart consideration.
Chief executive Annabelle Herd said the changes reflect ARIA’s intent to remain dynamic while safeguarding creativity.
“Artists already use AI tools in their work, and the charts can evolve to keep room for that, but music generated wholesale by services built on artistes’ recordings is a different matter,” she said. “A chart that rewards unlicensed AI output would undercut the very basis of the recorded music we exist to represent.”
The ruling highlights ARIA’s effort to protect human creativity in a rapidly evolving industry. By requiring artistes to declare AI use and ensuring that song writing, vocals, and instrumentation remain human-led, ARIA aims to keep its charts a reflection of artistry rather than algorithm.