A recent cover version of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” that received significant airplay on Australian radio stations is now facing exclusion from official music charts due to new regulations established by the Australian music industry. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the nation’s official music charts, has declared that tracks entirely created by artificial intelligence (AI) will no longer be permitted.
According to ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles, the association has mandated that recordings must have a substantial human element to be considered for inclusion on the ARIA charts. Tracks primarily generated by generative AI, particularly in key creative components such as lead vocals or instruments, will be disqualified from chart eligibility. However, compositions where AI plays a minor role on top of a human performance will still be deemed eligible.
In addition to the AI restriction, ARIA reserves the right to remove any recordings suspected of manipulating streaming or chart data. The association emphasized the importance of complying with copyright laws and related regulations. Recordings produced by generative AI will also be ineligible for recognition at the prestigious ARIA Awards.
ARIA’s Chief Executive, Annabelle Herd, expressed that these modifications aim to uphold the human essence of artistic expression in an ever-evolving industry. She emphasized the importance of maintaining transparency in music consumption, stating that chart rankings should not reward unlicensed AI-generated content.
The decision follows the controversy surrounding a rendition of “Like a Prayer” by Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz, featuring AI-generated vocals and drums. Despite spending 16 weeks on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart and reaching the second position in May, Fawaz’s track faced backlash for its heavy reliance on generative AI technology.
Critics, including music producer Mitch Thomas, accused Fawaz of solely using AI to create music, sparking a heated online debate. Fawaz defended his work, stating that AI is merely a tool in his creative process and not the sole source of his music production.
The new regulations prohibiting wholly AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts will take effect next Monday. While Fawaz’s version of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the revised criteria, some AI-assisted music compositions may still qualify for chart inclusion, as confirmed by ARIA officials.