AI-Generated Music Banned from Australia’s Music Charts
Australia has implemented a significant change to its music charts, prohibiting songs that are created entirely or mostly by artificial intelligence. Starting this week, all new music submissions must be “substantially human-made” to qualify for chart eligibility.
The directive comes from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which aims to uphold the essence of artistry that is fundamentally human in nature. This decision follows a recent controversy surrounding a cover of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” by Australian DJ Josh Fawaz, which gained remarkable popularity, topping the ARIA dance singles chart and reaching number two overall in Australia.
This track has received substantial airplay and has been streamed over 48 million times on Spotify. After facing backlash, Fawaz updated the song to include credits for generative AI.
In a saturated market, ARIA stressed that Australian artists deserve to be recognized for their human creativity. The organization has expressed a firm stance against promoting music generated by AI devoid of human involvement.
Under the new regulations, artists can still utilize AI tools in the creation process, but crucial elements like song composition, lead vocals, and primary instrument performances must be performed by humans. Additionally, AI can still be employed for tasks like mastering tracks or using drum machines and auto-tune functionalities.
This move by ARIA is not isolated; earlier this year, a song was also banned from Sweden’s music charts for being AI-generated. Moreover, in July, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced plans to introduce AI guidelines across regions including Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
The updated code, based on IFPI guidelines, also puts a spotlight on music that raises concerns over stream or chart manipulation. ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd emphasized the need for these updates to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of music and technology.
“While artists continue to incorporate AI into their work, the charts must evolve to accommodate this innovation. However, music produced entirely by AI tools does not align with the core of the music profession,” she stated. Herd also warned that a chart rewarding unlicensed AI compositions undermines the foundation of recorded music.
Artists will now be expected to disclose any AI involvement when submitting their songs for chart consideration. Furthermore, ARIA reserves the right to adjust chart positions retrospectively if it is discovered that music is predominantly AI-generated; in such instances, awards for number one statuses may need to be returned.
Among the artists supporting this initiative is the Australian electronic duo Peking Duk. Recently, they shared an AI-assisted rendition of their 2014 hit “High” on social media, humorously captioning it to highlight the necessity of revisiting earlier works with AI to meet local radio criteria. Band member Adam Hyde remarked that AI-generated music detracts from genuine human experience.
In a related move, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to provide robust protections against AI for creatives in the country. He asserted that artists should maintain autonomy over how their works are utilized in training AI systems, warning that failing to do so would equate to theft.
Editor’s Take
This decision to ban AI-generated music from charts is a landmark move in the ongoing dialogue about the role of technology in artistic expression. It underscores the importance of human creativity and sets a precedent for how music industries may navigate AI technologies. This change is likely to influence how creators use AI tools, encouraging a balance between innovation and authenticity in the industry.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
