ARIA charts to exclude AI-generated music - UA.NEWS

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has updated its official chart rules to explicitly exclude music tracks that are predominantly or entirely generated by artificial intelligence. This policy shift aligns Australian industry standards with global principles aimed at preserving the role of human creativity in the music industry.

What happened

The policy change followed public debate regarding a cover of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" produced by Queensland DJ Josh Fawaz. In July 2024, the track achieved significant popularity, becoming the most played song on Australian radio and reaching the fourth position on two ARIA charts. Following claims that the song utilized generative AI, Fawaz confirmed that he had used AI as a tool, specifically noting in the track’s Spotify listing that the vocals and drums were AI-generated.

Under the new code, ARIA can now remove recordings from charts, adjust positions, or withdraw awards if a track does not meet the requirement of being predominantly human-created. The rules stipulate that AI may only be used as an auxiliary tool. ARIA’s decision was informed by principles published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which are being adopted by over 20 global chart programs to distinguish human-made music from fully generated content. According to an ARIA representative, these standards are intended to disqualify music where lead vocals or key instrumental parts are AI-generated. While artists retain the right to appeal exclusion decisions, ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd has called on radio stations and industry promoters to support human creativity and adopt similar regulatory frameworks.