A recent cover of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” gained significant airplay on Australian radio last month. However, the track faces potential exclusion from official music charts due to new regulations established by the Australian music industry.
The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for managing the country’s official music charts, declared that songs entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI) will no longer be permitted. ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles explained that recordings must have a substantial human element to qualify for the ARIA charts.
Recordings where generative AI has primarily produced creative aspects, such as lead vocals or instruments, will not be considered for chart inclusion. ARIA emphasized that AI usage should complement human performances rather than replace them entirely.
Additionally, ARIA reserves the right to remove tracks suspected of chart manipulation and ensure compliance with copyright laws. Recordings created solely by generative AI will not be eligible for prestigious accolades like the ARIA Awards.
ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd stated that these adjustments aim to uphold the authenticity of human artistry in a rapidly evolving music landscape. The changes are intended to maintain transparency in chart rankings and highlight music created through genuine human expression.
The decision follows the controversy surrounding DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of “Like a Prayer,” which integrated AI-generated vocals and drums and enjoyed chart success. The track faced criticism for its AI involvement, with music professionals like Mitch Thomas questioning the authenticity of AI-generated music.
The new guidelines will take effect next week, disqualifying wholly AI-generated songs from the ARIA charts. However, music assisted by AI tools may still be eligible for chart inclusion, as clarified by ARIA in a statement to the press.
ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the revised eligibility criteria and will be excluded from the charts based on the artist’s disclosed information.