The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is introducing new rules that will prevent songs created mostly or entirely with artificial intelligence from appearing on Australia’s official music charts.
The policy takes effect from Friday, August 28, 2026, while songs that use AI as a supporting production tool can remain eligible if the recording is substantially human-made.
The decision follows controversy surrounding Australian producer Josh Fawaz’s cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” The track became a major radio success in Australia, reaching No. 1 on the national radio airplay chart and attracting millions of streams. Questions were subsequently raised over whether generative AI had been used to create elements of the recording, particularly its vocals.
Fawaz has said he uses AI as a tool, while critics have questioned whether music substantially generated by artificial intelligence should compete directly with recordings made by human musicians.
Under ARIA’s new approach, AI itself is not being prohibited from music production. Human artists can continue using artificial intelligence for tasks such as production, mixing, mastering and other creative assistance. The key distinction is whether the final recording remains substantially the work of human creators.
The policy reflects a wider debate across the global music industry over copyright, royalties, transparency and the impact of generative AI on musicians. Streaming platforms and record companies are also developing systems to identify and label AI-generated music.
ARIA says the move is intended to protect the integrity of its charts while allowing artists to continue experimenting with AI as part of the creative process.
The Australian decision could also influence how other music markets approach the growing presence of AI-generated songs, particularly as increasingly sophisticated tools make it difficult for listeners to distinguish between human and machine-created performances.
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