The latest hit to receive significant airplay on Australian radio last month is now facing potential exclusion from official charts due to new regulations established by the Australian music industry. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the nation’s official music charts, recently declared that tracks entirely produced by artificial intelligence will no longer be permitted.
According to an announcement to CBC News by ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles, the association has mandated that recordings must have a significant human element to be considered for the ARIA charts. Tracks where generative AI is responsible for creating the primary creative components will be disqualified. However, recordings where AI has been used minimally alongside a human performance will still be eligible for chart placement.
ARIA also stated its authority to eliminate recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts, emphasizing compliance with copyright laws. Additionally, music generated by generative AI will not be eligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards.
ARIA’s Chief Executive Annabelle Herd explained that these changes aim to preserve the artistic human touch in music creation amidst the rapidly evolving landscape. She emphasized the importance of chart transparency and the representation of licensed music in the industry.
These revisions follow the success of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” featuring AI-generated vocals and drums, achieving high rankings on the ARIA charts. The song’s popularity sparked debates and criticisms surrounding the use of generative AI in music production.
In response to criticism from music producer Mitch Thomas, who alleged that Fawaz’s music was entirely AI-generated, Fawaz defended his work, clarifying that AI is merely a tool in his creative process. Despite the ongoing controversy, the new regulations will take effect next Monday, disqualifying wholly AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts while permitting AI-assisted music that meets the outlined criteria.
ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the eligibility standards based on the provided information.