Australia Excludes Fully AI-Generated Music from Charts

Starting this week, Australia’s music charts will exclude tracks created entirely by artificial intelligence. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which compiles the country’s most popular songs and albums, announced the change on Tuesday.

ARIA will continue to allow recordings in which creators use generative AI only in a supporting role. To qualify, a track must be “substantially human made” and raise no concerns about streaming or chart manipulation.

The move comes as AI-generated music grows in popularity. Major record labels are seeking new licensing arrangements to protect their catalogs, while musicians, songwriters and producers are urging governments to protect their work from unauthorized use without permission or payment.

The decision follows controversy over Australian DJ Josh Fawaz’s cover of Madonna’s 1989 hit Like a Prayer. Some producers alleged that generative AI had been used on the track without initially being disclosed. The song became the most-played track on Australian radio and reached No. 4 on two ARIA charts in July. Responding to criticism in June, Fawaz said he had used AI “as a tool, it’s not that deep”.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged last month that the government would take steps to ensure Australian creative artists retain ownership of their work.

(Reuters, lud)