One of the most popular songs on Australian radio in recent times faces 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 music charts, has declared that tracks entirely created by artificial intelligence (AI) will no longer be permitted for chart inclusion.
According to ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles, the association stipulated that recordings must possess a significant human element to be considered for the ARIA charts. Tracks heavily reliant on generative AI for creative aspects, especially lead vocals or primary instruments derived from AI prompts rather than human input, will be ineligible. However, recordings where AI supplements a human performance in a minor capacity will retain eligibility.
In addition, ARIA will have the authority to remove recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts, ensuring compliance with copyright laws. Furthermore, tracks produced by generative AI will be disqualified from the prestigious ARIA Awards.
ARIA’s Chief Executive Annabelle Herd emphasized the importance of maintaining the human essence of artistic expression in light of technological advancements. Herd highlighted the need for music charts to accurately reflect the human creativity that defines the music industry.
The new regulations follow the presence of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” featuring AI-generated vocals and drums, on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart for 16 weeks. Fawaz’s controversial track, which reached No. 2 on the chart in May and maintained the fourth position recently, sparked debates and criticism surrounding the use of generative AI in music production.
Critics, including music producer Mitch Thomas, accused Fawaz of exclusively utilizing AI to create his music, alleging that it resembled output from the gen AI platform Suno. Fawaz defended his approach, stating that AI was merely a tool in his creative process.
The revised guidelines will take effect next Monday, prohibiting entirely AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts. However, compositions featuring AI assistance in a supplementary role will remain eligible for chart inclusion, as confirmed by ARIA to CBC News. Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” was deemed ineligible based on information provided by the artist.
