Australia bans fully AI-generated songs from official music charts

Australia will bar fully AI-generated songs from appearing on its official music charts, citing concerns that rapid advances in generative AI could erode artists’ roles and human creativity. The policy follows controversy involving an AI-made version of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” That track, created by an Australian musician using AI-generated vocals and drums, spent 16 weeks in the top 20 and peaked at No. 2 in May on the ARIA top 20 singles chart, where it still sat at No. 4 on Aug. 25. Starting Monday, Aug. 31, completely AI-generated songs will be ineligible for ARIA charts and excluded from the ARIA Awards. Music with AI assistance can chart if humans write it and provide lead vocals and main instruments.