Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Australia Bars Mostly AI-Generated Songs From Official Charts
Australia is changing which songs can enter its official music charts.
Songs made mostly or entirely by artificial intelligence will not qualify.
The new rules begin on August 28.
People can still use AI to help with tasks like editing, mastering, or production.
However, humans must create the main creative parts, including the lead singing and important instruments.
The change followed a popular AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” by Josh Fawaz.
Some musicians and researchers worry that AI could copy artists’ work or create too many songs designed to gain streams.
ARIA says its goal is to recognize human creativity while leaving room for useful technology.
ARIA will exclude wholly or primarily AI-generated songs from its official charts and ARIA Music Awards.
The rules take effect on August 28 and require releases to be substantially human-made.
AI remains allowed for supporting tasks such as mastering, editing, production, Auto-Tune, and some expressive elements.
The policy follows backlash over Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” which exceeded 48 million Spotify streams.
Artists must disclose AI use, while ARIA can alter chart positions, revoke awards, and hear challenges to exclusion decisions.
- Who
- The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), artists, researchers, and musicians including Josh Fawaz and Peking Duk are involved.
- What
- ARIA will exclude songs created wholly or primarily through generative AI from its official charts and awards, while allowing limited AI assistance in substantially human-made recordings.
- When
- The rules take effect on August 28; one source describes them as applying from that week’s chart release.
- Where
- Australia, including the ARIA charts and ARIA Music Awards.
- Why
- ARIA says it wants to preserve human artistry and address concerns about unlicensed AI output, copyright, consent, training data, and possible chart or streaming manipulation.
Human-Centered Charting
AI as a Creative Tool
Chart and award eligibility
Human-Centered Charting
ARIA argues that music generated wholesale by artificial intelligence should not receive the same chart or award status as substantially human-made work.
AI as a Creative Tool
AI can be a legitimate production tool, and recordings using it in limited supporting ways should remain eligible.
Impact on artists
Human-Centered Charting
ARIA, musicians, and researchers warn that unlicensed AI output could use artists’ recordings without consent and flood streaming services in pursuit of plays and advertising revenue.
AI as a Creative Tool
Supporters of AI-assisted music distinguish between prompting a system to create a finished song and using AI to help produce, edit, or improve a human-led recording.
Control and compensation
Human-Centered Charting
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australian creatives should retain control over whether and how their work is used to train AI systems and should be paid for that use.
AI as a Creative Tool
The articles describe an ongoing debate over how artists should control or receive payment for training-data use, without identifying a settled alternative policy.
- Responsible organization
- Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)
- Effective date
- August 28
- Eligibility standard
- Releases must be substantially human-made
- Human contribution
- Humans must write the song and perform the lead vocal and primary instruments
- Permitted AI uses
- Supporting uses such as mastering, editing, production, Auto-Tune, and certain expressive elements
- Triggering controversy
- Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”
- Cover performance
- The song topped the ARIA Australian Dance Singles chart; sources also report it reached No. 2 on Australia’s overall chart or No. 4 in July
- Enforcement
- ARIA may change chart positions, revoke awards, and consider appeals
