Australia has banned music created entirely by artificial intelligence from its official charts and annual music awards, following a backlash over an AI-heavy cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced the changes on Tuesday, saying wholly AI-generated tracks would no longer qualify for its charts from Friday.
However, songs that use AI only in a supporting role will remain eligible, as the industry seeks to distinguish technology-assisted music from recordings largely created by artificial intelligence.
ARIA said it would use a new labelling system introduced by music industry organisations last month to determine the level of AI involvement in a recording.
Under the system, music is classified as “AI-Generated” when artificial intelligence creates the entirety or primary portion of the recording’s creative elements, while “AI-Assisted” applies where AI is used for only some expressive elements.
ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said the charts should adapt to legitimate technological developments but should not reward music produced entirely by AI using material derived from the work of other artists.
“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.
The decision followed controversy surrounding a cover of Madonna’s 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” by Brisbane-based DJ Josh Fawaz.
The track, which uses AI-generated vocals and drums, topped ARIA’s Top 20 Australian Dance Singles Chart despite growing concerns among music fans and producers about the extent of artificial intelligence used in its production.
Fawaz acknowledged using AI on the recording last month after initially facing questions over whether the song had been produced entirely by humans.
The cover has since accumulated more than 48.5 million streams on Spotify and remains at number one on the Australian dance chart.
Fawaz, who has defended AI as a creative tool, welcomed ARIA’s decision, describing the new rules as “a great move.”
“I understand that AI in music isn’t for everyone and that’s fine. Good to see Aussie artists killing it globally!!” he wrote on social media.
The debate has intensified as music organisations and artists grapple with concerns over copyright, ownership and the use of human-created music to train AI systems.
Oliver Bown, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales who researches technology and art, said the growing use of AI in music required urgent scrutiny. “Many large commercial AI music generation companies have assumed they can scrape training data without permission, and so are potentially predatory on artists.”
He acknowledged that artists could use AI responsibly but warned that the technology could also be exploited to generate music primarily for streams and profits. “Many organisations have developed rules about AI use and an increasing number see the need to ban full-AI works. I think this is the right thing to do.”
Ivan Zavada, a senior lecturer in composition and music technology at the University of Sydney, described ARIA’s decision as a necessary measure to protect human creativity and performance.
“More work needs to be done on the legal and intellectual property fronts to enable more trust and clarity in these tools,” Zavada said.
He added that AI would likely become an increasingly important part of music production, describing the industry as being in an exciting but concerning period of technological transition.
ARIA, whose members include Sony Music Entertainment Australia and Universal Music Australia, publishes more than two dozen weekly charts, including the country’s top 50 singles and albums.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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