A recent cover of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” rose to prominence as one of the most frequently played tracks on Australian radio last month. However, due to new regulations established by the Australian music industry, the track risks being excluded from official charts. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the country’s official music charts, disclosed that they will now disqualify songs that are entirely AI-generated.
ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles conveyed that recordings must have a significant human contribution to be considered for the ARIA charts. Any tracks where generative AI forms the creative essence or a substantial portion of it will be ineligible. Knowles pointed out that if AI is primarily responsible for elements like lead vocals or instruments rather than human input, the track will not meet the criteria. Nevertheless, recordings where AI enhances a human performance will still be eligible.
In addition to the AI restriction, ARIA retains the authority to remove songs suspected of manipulating streams or charts. The association emphasized compliance with copyright laws and related rights, making tracks created by generative AI ineligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd stated that these measures aim to preserve the human aspect of music creation in a rapidly evolving landscape.
The decision follows the success of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of “Like a Prayer,” featuring AI-generated vocals and drums, on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart for 16 weeks. Despite reaching the No. 2 spot in May and holding fourth place as of the latest report, Fawaz’s track sparked controversy and criticism regarding AI utilization.
Music producer Mitch Thomas criticized Fawaz online, alleging that his music was entirely AI-generated. Thomas suggested that Fawaz might have used the gen AI platform Suno to produce his tracks. Fawaz defended his approach, claiming that AI serves as a tool in his music production rather than the sole creator.
The new regulations are set to take effect next Monday, prohibiting completely AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts. However, music assisted by AI to some extent will remain eligible. ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the requirements based on the provided information.