Fully AI-Generated Songs Banned From Australian Music Charts

The Spotify music app displayed on a phone in New York City on June 4, 2024. Artificial intelligence has led to a huge rise in content on streaming services. Photo Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has banned tracks that are entirely AI generated from its charts.

ARIA is the peak body representing the recorded music industry in Australia. It compiles the official ARIA Charts and presents the annual ARIA Awards.

According to its latest rules, to qualify for the charts, a recording must be substantially human-made and raise no stream or chart manipulation concerns.

Recordings that use generative AI only in a supporting role remain eligible.

The changes come amid industry debate sparked by an Australian producer’s cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” reaching number four on ARIA charts, despite the use of AI.

The track was later updated on Spotify with credits reflecting the use of AI for its vocals and drums. It remains to be seen whether the recording will continue to appear on the charts.

ARIA Chief Executive Annabelle Herd said the changes were designed to keep the charts responsive to fast-moving technology.

“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,” Herd said in a statement.

Herd said that artists “already use AI tools” in their work and said the charts “can and should” evolve to enable room for that.

“But music generated wholesale by services built on artists’ recordings is a different matter,” she said.

“The ARIA Charts will always remain a transparent measurement of the music Australia consumes, but a chart that rewards unlicensed AI output would undercut the very basis of the recorded music we exist to represent.”

Any ineligible recording will not be eligible for an ARIA Award. Further, if ARIA decides a recording is “ineligible” it can be removed from the charts or lose accreditation.

The new ARIA Charts Code of Practice aligns Australia with global principles set by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

The move comes as the Australian federal government investigates its national standards around AI development.

Speaking at the University of Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a future framework would look to protect the work of musicians and creators.

“Australian writers, musicians, artists and journalists must retain ownership and control of their work. Our laws will spell that out, plain as day,” he said.

“An artist’s creative endeavour is their work and their property. No company should use Australian books, music, art or news to build or train AI without the artist’s control.”

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