Australia's music charts ban AI-made songs amid backlash over Madonna cover

Australia’s official music charts will exclude tracks “wholly AI-generated” following backlash tied to a Madonna “Like a Prayer” cover that leaned heavily on artificial-intelligence vocals and drums. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) said on Tuesday that songs using AI only in a “supporting role” can still qualify, while fully AI-made work will also be barred from ARIA Music Awards recognition. The new labeling rules, effective Friday, use tags such as “AI-Generated” or “AI-Assisted” based on how much of the recording’s creative elements were created by AI versus humans. ARIA’s Annabelle Herd said charts should evolve but not endorse music made “wholesale” using others’ work. The policy follows DJ Josh Fawaz’s chart-topping cover, which has drawn 48.5 million Spotify listens and sits at No. 1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Dance Singles Chart.