The Australian Recording Industry Association has banned wholly AI-generated songs from its official music charts and ARIA Awards, following a viral cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” that used artificial intelligence for its vocals and drums. According to ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd, the new policy takes effect on August 28 to protect the human nature of artistry as streaming platforms face an influx of machine-made tracks.
ARIA Chart Rules Target Fully AI-Generated Tracks
Under the updated guidelines announced by the Australian Recording Industry Association, recordings must be substantially human-made to qualify for official charts and awards. ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles stated in a statement to CBC News that tracks featuring lead vocals or instruments produced primarily through a prompt rather than a human performance are ineligible. However, music that uses artificial intelligence in a minor capacity as a production or editing tool remains fully eligible, provided a human performance anchors the recording. ARIA also retains the authority to remove any recordings suspected of stream or chart manipulation that violate copyright and related rights.
The Viral Cover That Sparked the Crackdown
The policy shift arrives on the heels of a massive chart run by Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz. His AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” spent 16 weeks on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart, peaking at No. 2 in May and holding the fourth spot. The track utilized artificial intelligence to generate its vocals and drums, drawing sharp criticism from industry peers. Music producer Mitch Thomas publicly condemned the release online, labeling Fawaz as a major issue in modern music and alleging the track was created entirely via the generative platform Suno. Fawaz defended his workflow in online comment sections, asserting that he treats the technology strictly as a production tool.
Industry Reactions and Broader Implications
Industry stakeholders view the policy as a necessary line in the sand against automated copyright exploitation. University of New South Wales associate professor Oliver Bown told Al Jazeera that while artificial intelligence offers meaningful creative possibilities, it risks encouraging mass-produced tracks designed purely to fish for plays and profits on streaming services. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd reinforced this sentiment, stating that rewarding unlicensed machine output would undermine the foundational recorded music the association represents. As streaming marketplaces grapple with rising volumes of synthetic audio, Australia’s regulatory step establishes a definitive precedent for separating human-driven artistry from machine-generated content.
Did You Know? Josh Fawaz’s controversial cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” reached No. 1 on the ARIA Australian Dance Singles chart before its Spotify credits were officially updated to acknowledge its AI components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all AI-assisted songs banned from the ARIA charts?
No. Songs that use artificial intelligence in a minor, auxiliary way—such as production cleanup, mixing, or editing—remain eligible, provided a human performance sits at the center of the recording.
When do the new ARIA rules take effect?
The updated eligibility criteria take effect on August 28, with wholly AI-generated tracks slated for removal from the official charts.
Can AI-generated tracks win ARIA Awards?
No. Recordings produced entirely or primarily by generative artificial intelligence are ineligible for the country’s esteemed ARIA Awards.
What specific track triggered the policy change?
A viral cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” produced by Brisbane DJ Josh Fawaz, which used artificial intelligence to generate vocals and drums, prompted the association to update its guidelines after spending 16 weeks on the charts.
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