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Australia's ARIA Charts Ban AI-Generated Songs, Requiring Substantially Human-Made Music
Key points
- ARIA charts now require music to be "substantially human made."
- AI can assist but humans must write, perform lead vocals and primary instruments.
- The rule change follows a controversy over an AI-assisted Madonna cover.
- Artists must declare AI use; ARIA can retrospectively adjust chart positions.
New Eligibility Rules for Australian Music Charts
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has implemented new rules for its music charts, effective this week, which ban songs that are largely or wholly created by artificial intelligence. To be eligible for the charts, all releases must now be "substantially human made," a move ARIA states will help promote the human nature of artistry in music.
Context and Precedent
This decision comes after a recent controversy involving Australian DJ Josh Fawaz's AI-assisted cover of Madonna's "Like A Prayer," which reached number one on the ARIA dance singles chart and number two on the overall chart. Fawaz later added generative AI credits to the song after public backlash. Similar bans have occurred in other countries, with Sweden banning an AI-created song earlier this year, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) rolling out AI guidelines for charts in other regions.
Permitted AI Use and Declarations
Under the updated code, AI assistance is still permitted for certain aspects, such as mastering songs, using drum machines, and auto-tune. However, human involvement is mandatory for songwriting, lead vocals, and primary instrument performance. Artists are now required to declare any AI use when submitting a song for chart consideration. ARIA reserves the right to retrospectively adjust chart positions and request the return of awards if a song is later found to be largely AI-generated.
Industry Rationale
ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd stated that the changes reflect an intent to remain dynamic and promote human artistry in a rapidly developing space. She emphasized that while artists use AI tools, music generated wholesale by services built on artists' recordings is a different matter. Herd added that a chart rewarding unlicensed AI output would undermine the basis of recorded music that ARIA represents, as Australian artists compete in a crowded market.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has banned songs predominantly created by AI from its music charts, requiring all eligible releases to be "substantially human made." This change follows a controversy involving an AI-assisted track that topped the dance singles chart and aims to promote human artistry in music.