Melbourne – In a move to protect musicians’ livelihoods, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced that wholly AI‑generated songs will be ineligible for its official charts and the prestigious ARIA Awards starting next week.

Human creativity remains the standard

According to an ARIA statement, a track can qualify for the charts only if “humans wrote the song and performed the lead vocal and the primary instruments,” and it must be produced using legal AI services. Songs that incorporate AI tools are still allowed, provided a human makes the core creative decisions.

ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said the changes reflect a commitment to “promote the human nature of artistry” in a rapidly developing space. She added that a chart that rewards unlicensed AI output would “undercut the very basis of the recorded music we exist to represent.”

Recent AI‑generated hit sparked debate

The policy shift follows a AI‑generated version of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” that spent 16 weeks in the Australian top‑20, peaking at number two in May and still holding a top‑four spot. The song, produced by an Australian creator using AI‑generated vocals and drums, highlighted the growing tension between technology and traditional musicians.

Industry leaders say the new rules align with guidelines released in July by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which require tracks on official charts to be “substantially human made.”

Musicians welcome the protection

Composer and lecturer Alexis Weaver of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music told the ABC that the debate around AI in music is “exceptionally fraught and very emotional for a lot of musicians.” She praised ARIA’s decision as a “wonderful step forward” that signals a priority on human creativity. Weaver noted that while AI tools are hard to avoid, artists can still use them as long as they retain the primary creative control.

The new rules aim to ensure that the ARIA charts remain a transparent measurement of the music Australians consume, while safeguarding the rights and earnings of creators whose work fuels the nation’s vibrant music scene.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.