Key facts
- Songs must be "substantially human made" to be eligible for Australian music charts.
- The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) implemented the new rule this week.
- AI can be used for mastering and tools like drum machines and auto-tune.
- Human input must include writing the song and performing lead vocals and primary instruments.
- Artists must declare AI use, with potential for retrospective chart adjustments.
- The move aims to promote human artistry and prevent chart manipulation.
Songs that are largely or wholly created by artificial intelligence have been banned from Australia's official music charts. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced this week that all releases must be "substantially human made" to be eligible for inclusion.
The decision follows a controversy surrounding an AI-assisted cover of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" by Australian DJ Josh Fawaz, which reached number two on the overall ARIA chart and became a popular radio hit, accumulating over 48 million streams on Spotify alone. Fawaz later added generative AI credits to the track after facing backlash.
ARIA stated that in a highly competitive market, it is "not interested in promoting or celebrating the success of AI-generated music that does not contain human artistry." While AI assistance is still permitted for tasks such as mastering, and for tools like drum machines and auto-tune, humans must have written the song and performed the lead vocals and primary instruments.
Similar AI guidelines are being rolled out by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for charts in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The updated ARIA code also excludes music that raises concerns about "stream or chart manipulation."
ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd emphasized the need to promote "the human nature of artistry" while acknowledging that artists already use AI tools. She noted that music generated wholesale by services built on artists' recordings is a different matter and that a chart rewarding unlicensed AI output would undermine the industry.
Artists are required to declare AI use when submitting songs, and ARIA reserves the right to retrospectively adjust chart positions or request the return of awards if music is found to be largely AI-generated. Artists and their representatives will have the ability to challenge exclusions. Australian electronic act Peking Duk, who have previously experimented with AI-assisted versions of their own songs, support the move, with band member Adam Hyde stating that AI-generated music "removes the human experience from life."
This development aligns with broader discussions about AI's impact on creative industries. In July last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged strong protections for Australian creatives, including the right to choose if and how their work is used in AI training, calling unauthorized use "theft."