In brief
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has imposed a new rule that disqualifies tracks that are largely or wholly created by artificial intelligence from its official charts. The decision followed a controversy over a largely AI‑generated cover of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" that had scooped the dance singles chart before being pulled. While artists can still use AI tools for editing and mastering, the song must have at least one human author, performer, or lead artist to qualify. ARIA warned it will retroactively adjust chart positions if a track is found to be mostly AI‑generated, and it has outlined a mechanism for artists to contest their exclusion. The move reflects broader industry calls for clearer safeguards around AI‑influenced music and has gained support from Australian acts like Peking Duk.
Songs that are largely or wholly created by AI have been banned from Australia's music charts.
From this week, all releases must be "substantially human made" to be eligible, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced.
The new code aims to promote the "human nature of artistry" and came after a highly-publicised cover of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" by Australian DJ Josh Fawaz topped the ARIA dance singles chart and rose to number 2 on the overall chart. The track was later revealed to have extensive AI input, sparking backlash and a subsequent removal of the AI credits.
ARIA said Australian artists face "the most crowded market in history" and that it is not interested in celebrating AI-only songs “that do not contain human artistry”.
Under the updated rules, AI assistance may still be used, but the songwriter must be human, and the lead vocal and primary instruments must be performed by a human artist. AI can still be applied to mastering, drum programming and auto‑tune.
Earlier this year, a song was similarly banned from Sweden’s charts for being fully AI‑generated. In July, the IFPI announced that AI guidelines would extend to Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia for their official charts.
The updated code also excludes music that raises “stream or chart manipulation concerns.”
ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said, “These changes reflect our intent to remain dynamic and promote the human nature of artistry in what is, to say the least, a rapidly developing space.” She added, “Artists already use AI tools in their work, the charts can and should evolve to keep room for that, but music generated wholesale by services built on artists’ recordings is a different matter.”
Artists must declare AI use when submitting a song for chart consideration. If a track later turns out to be largely AI‑generated, ARIA may retrospectively adjust its chart position and could request that number‑one awards be returned. Artists and their representatives will be able to challenge exclusions.
Peking Duk, an Australian electronic act, supported the move. They shared an AI‑assisted version of their 2014 hit "High" on Instagram, noting "when you re‑record your own song with AI so Australian radio will play it". Band member Adam Hyde told Channel Nine’s Today show that AI‑generated music was "removing the human experience from life."
In July last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged "the strongest possible protection" for creatives from AI, stating that writers and musicians would be able to choose how their work is used in AI training. He warned that unpaid use would amount to theft, demanding compensation.
