Australia bans AI-generated music from ARIA charts
Australia’s ARIA Charts are introducing new rules excluding wholly AI-generated music, while AI-assisted tracks can still chart if they are substantially human-made. Here’s what the change means for independent artists and the wider music industry.
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has introduced new rules for its charts. Starting this week, wholly or primarily AI-generated recordings will no longer be eligible for the ARIA Charts.
The change doesn’t mean AI is being removed from music altogether. Tracks that use AI as part of the creative process can still qualify, provided they remain substantially human-made and don’t raise concerns around stream or chart manipulation.
What are the new ARIA AI music rules?
ARIA’s updated Charts Code of Practice will apply to the chart published on Friday, August 28, with the changes formally taking effect from the chart dated August 31.
Under the new rules, a recording using generative AI must be substantially human-made and must not raise concerns around stream or chart manipulation to remain eligible.
ARIA distinguishes between two types of AI use.
AI-generated music is where generative AI creates the entirety or primary creative elements of a recording. This could include an AI-generated lead vocal, key instrumental performance or an entirely prompt-generated track.
AI-assisted music, meanwhile, is substantially created by humans, with people performing the lead vocal and primary instruments while AI is used for some expressive elements.
That means using AI as a tool isn’t automatically going to prevent an artist from appearing on the Australian charts.
Why is ARIA banning AI-generated music?
The change follows growing concern about fully AI-generated music appearing alongside music created by human artists.
According to DMN, the issue came into sharper focus in Australia last month when Queensland DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s Like a Prayer became the most-played song on Australian radio and reached number four on two ARIA charts.
The track was later updated on Spotify to disclose that AI had been used to generate its vocals and drums, which has since surpassed 48 million Spotify streams.
ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said artists are already using AI tools, but argued that music generated wholesale by AI services built on artists’ recordings is a different issue. ARIA says a chart that rewards unlicensed AI output could undermine what the charts are intended to represent.
There is also a wider concern around manipulation. With AI making it possible to produce huge volumes of music quickly, chart rules are increasingly having to consider whether streams represent genuine listener interest.
AI music rules are spreading globally
Australia’s decision isn’t happening in isolation.
In July, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) introduced global principles for determining whether AI-developed recordings should be eligible for official charts.
IFPI’s framework says AI-assisted recordings can qualify where the AI service is authorised and lawful, the recording is substantially human-made, and there are no concerns around manipulation. The principles also call for compliance with copyright and other applicable laws, alongside appropriate AI disclosure on downstream services.
IFPI said the principles would initially apply across its own chart programmes, while it works with national organisations to introduce them across more than 20 additional official chart programmes. ARIA is among the organisations implementing the framework.
So Australia’s new rules could be an early sign of how other major music markets approach AI and chart eligibility.
What does this mean for independent artists?
For artists who write, record and perform their own music, the change could reinforce the value of human creativity and transparency as AI-generated music becomes more common.
It also highlights an important distinction: using AI doesn’t necessarily mean your music is treated as AI-generated.
Artists might use AI for elements of production, experimentation, mastering or other parts of their workflow without handing over the core creative process. ARIA’s rules leave room for this type of AI-assisted music, as long as the recording remains substantially human-made.
At the same time, artists should pay closer attention to how AI is used and disclosed in their releases. Music platforms and industry organisations are increasingly introducing their own AI policies, meaning accurate metadata and transparency are becoming a bigger part of music distribution.
This is already happening beyond the charts. Apple Music is preparing to make its “Made With AI” labels visible to listeners later this year, following its introduction of AI transparency tags for music distributors and labels.
For independent artists, keeping track of how AI has been used in a release, and understanding the rules of the services you distribute to, is becoming increasingly important.
The bigger picture for AI and music
The ARIA decision is another sign that the music industry isn’t taking a simple all-or-nothing approach to AI.
Instead, the focus is increasingly on how AI is used, whether the technology is properly authorised, and how much human creativity remains at the heart of a recording.
That distinction could become increasingly important as AI-generated music continues to flood streaming platforms. Deezer recently reported that fully AI-generated music was making up more than half of new uploads on peak days, despite accounting for only a small proportion of total streams.
For artists, that creates an interesting opportunity. As AI-generated content becomes more widespread, having a recognisable artistic identity, genuine creative story and real connection with listeners could become even more valuable.
So, while technology may be changing how music is made, the demand for artists with something unique to say isn’t going away.
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