The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has introduced new rules that will exclude music created predominantly by artificial intelligence from its official charts. This move aims to safeguard human creativity and artistry within the recorded music industry.
New Eligibility Criteria for Australian Charts
Under the updated ARIA code, for a release to be eligible for chart consideration, it must be "substantially human made." This means that human artists must have written the song, performed the lead vocals, and played the primary instruments. While AI tools are still permitted for processes like mastering, and established technologies such as drum machines and auto-tune remain acceptable, the core creative output must originate from human effort.
ARIA emphasized its commitment to promoting human artistry, stating that Australian artists face intense competition in a crowded market. The organization clarified it has no interest in celebrating the success of AI-generated music that lacks human artistic contribution.
Disclosure and Retrospective Action
Artists and their representatives will now be required to declare any use of AI when submitting songs for chart consideration. ARIA reserves the right to retrospectively adjust a song's chart position if it later emerges that the music was largely AI-generated. In cases where an AI-dominated track reached number one, the organization could even request the return of any awards granted for achieving the top spot.
Industry Context and Support
This decision follows a period of debate and controversy surrounding AI's role in music. Notably, an AI-assisted cover of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" by Australian DJ Josh Fawaz recently topped the ARIA dance singles chart and reached number two on the overall chart, accumulating over 48 million streams on Spotify before generative AI credits were added following a backlash.
Australia's chart ban aligns with similar actions taken internationally; Sweden, for instance, previously banned an AI-created song from its charts. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) also announced AI guidelines for official charts in various regions. Australian electronic music duo Peking Duk are among the artists who have voiced support for ARIA's new stance, highlighting concerns about AI removing the "human experience from life."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also weighed in on the broader debate, promising "the strongest possible protection" for Australian creatives against AI, advocating for artists' control over how their work is used in AI training and fair compensation.