Songs created by AI banned from Australia's music charts

Australia’s music charts will no longer list songs that are largely or wholly generated by artificial intelligence, with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announcing a new eligibility code that takes effect this week. Under the rule, a release must be “substantially human made” – meaning the songwriter, lead vocalist and primary instrumentalist must be a person – to qualify for chart placement. The policy follows a high‑profile controversy in which DJ Josh Fawaz used generative AI to remix Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” a version that surged to number 2 on the overall ARIA chart and topped the dance singles chart after amassing more than 48 million Spotify streams. After public backlash, Fawaz added AI credits to the track, prompting ARIA to act to preserve “the human nature of artistry” and prevent AI‑only outputs from dominating the market.

ARIA’s chief executive Annabelle Herd said the amendment aligns with an International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) directive that also bars music raising “stream or chart manipulation concerns.” While AI may still be employed for mastering, drum programming or auto‑tune, the core composition and performance must involve a human creator. The updated code requires artists to declare any AI assistance when submitting songs for chart consideration, and ARIMA warned that retroactive adjustments could be made if a track is later found to be predominantly AI‑generated, including the possible revocation of Number One awards. The move mirrors a similar ban in Sweden and precedes IFPI’s rollout of AI guidelines across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia.

The decision has drawn support from Australian acts such as electronic duo Peking Duk, whose member Adam Hyde warned that AI‑driven music erodes the human experience. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also pledged stronger protections for creatives, promising that writers and musicians will retain control over how their works are used in AI training and will be compensated for any such use. ARIA’s policy aims to safeguard the integrity of the recorded‑music ecosystem, ensuring that chart success continues to reflect genuine artistic contribution rather than unlicensed, machine‑generated output.

⚡ Effects Interpreter