Songs created primarily with artificial intelligence excluded from the charts

The Australian Phonographic Industry Association (ARIA) has decided to exclude songs created entirely or primarily with the help of artificial intelligence from the official music charts, following the controversy generated by a version of Madonna's song "Like a Prayer", which reached the top of the Australian charts. The new rules state that a song must be "substantially created by humans" to be eligible for the ARIA charts. However, the use of artificial intelligence in the production process is not prohibited: songs in which AI plays a secondary role can remain in the charts, provided that the main creative elements are made by humans.

• "Like a Prayer" controversy

The ARIA decision comes after the success of the version of the song "Like a Prayer", released by Australian DJ and producer Josh Fawaz. The song reached number one on the national radio airplay chart and climbed to number two on the Australian singles chart, staying in the Top 20 for 16 weeks. The song was later credited on Spotify with vocals and drums generated using artificial intelligence. The song has racked up tens of millions of streams on the platform, and the use of AI has sparked a backlash in the Australian music industry. The case has fueled debate over what constitutes human creation in an industry where AI tools are increasingly being used.

• AI may be used, but not as a primary element

ARIA says it has no intention of banning the use of artificial intelligence in music production. Tracks where AI is used as a supporting tool will remain eligible, but not those where the technology generates all or most of the creative elements. The new rules apply to songwriting, lead vocals and essential instrumentation. ARIA says the move is aimed at preserving the human nature of artistic creation and protecting the integrity of the charts. The decision also reflects a broader problem in the music industry: the rapid growth of AI-generated tracks and the difficulty of determining how much human intervention is needed for a production to be considered essentially human-made.

With the new criteria, Australia establishes a demarcation between AI-assisted, in which technology is a tool used by artists, and AI-generated, in which artificial intelligence takes over the main part of the creative process. The measure does not eliminate AI-generated music from streaming platforms, but limits its access to official charts and, implicitly, to the mechanisms of recognition and promotion associated with them. The Australian case could become an important precedent for the international music industry, as the difference between production made by humans and that generated by AI systems becomes increasingly difficult to identify.