In the past month, a rendition of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” emerged as one of the most frequently played tracks on Australian radio. However, this cover version now faces potential exclusion from official music charts in Australia due to new regulations introduced by the Australian music industry.
The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the nation’s official music charts, recently declared that songs entirely created by artificial intelligence would no longer be permitted on the ARIA charts. ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles stated that recordings must have a significant human element to be considered for chart inclusion.
The new rule specifies that tracks predominantly generated by generative AI technology will not qualify for chart placement. ARIA emphasized that if AI is responsible for producing the primary creative components of a track, especially lead vocals or instruments, the recording will be deemed ineligible. However, recordings that feature human performances at their core, with AI enhancements, may still be eligible for chart consideration.
Furthermore, ARIA announced its authority to remove any recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts and clarified that all tracks must adhere to relevant copyright laws. In addition, music produced by generative AI will not be eligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards in Australia.
ARIA’s chief executive, Annabelle Herd, explained that these changes aim to maintain the authenticity of artistry in music amidst rapid technological advancements. She emphasized that the ARIA charts should reflect genuine human creativity, and rewarding AI-generated music would undermine the industry’s essence.
The revision of rules comes following the popularity of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of “Like a Prayer,” featuring AI-generated vocals and drums, which achieved significant success on the ARIA charts. Despite reaching high positions on the chart, the track sparked controversy and debate surrounding the use of generative AI in music production.
Critics, including music producer Mitch Thomas, publicly condemned Fawaz, accusing him of solely relying on AI for music creation and likening his sound to the gen AI platform Suno. Fawaz defended his approach, stating that AI serves as a tool in his music production process.
The updated regulations will take effect next Monday, prohibiting wholly AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts. However, compositions that involve AI assistance but maintain human creativity will still be considered eligible. ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the new eligibility criteria based on information provided by the artist.