In the recent past, a rendition of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” gained significant airplay on Australian radio stations. However, this cover version now faces the possibility of being excluded from official music charts due to new regulations introduced by the Australian music industry.
The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), the governing body for the country’s music charts, declared that tracks entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI) will no longer be permitted on the ARIA charts. ARIA emphasized that recordings must have a substantial human element to qualify.
According to ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles, tracks where generative AI solely creates the creative components or a significant portion of them will be disqualified. He clarified that if AI is responsible for a lead vocal or instrument without human input, the track will not meet the eligibility criteria. However, recordings where AI complements a human performance will still be considered.
In addition to restricting AI-generated music from the charts, ARIA will also have the authority to remove recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts. These regulations aim to ensure compliance with copyright laws and maintain the integrity of the ARIA charts and awards.
ARIA’s CEO, Annabelle Herd, highlighted the importance of supporting human creativity in the rapidly evolving music landscape. She emphasized that the ARIA charts should accurately reflect the music consumed in Australia without rewarding unlicensed AI output.
The decision follows the success of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted version of “Like a Prayer,” which sparked debates and criticisms within the industry. Despite spending 16 weeks on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart, Fawaz’s rendition will be removed from the charts next week due to the new AI regulations.
The controversy surrounding Fawaz’s music escalated, with music producer Mitch Thomas accusing Fawaz of exclusively using AI to create music. Fawaz defended his approach, stating that AI is merely a tool in his music production process.
While wholly AI-generated tracks will be banned, some AI-assisted music will still be eligible for the ARIA charts. Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” has been deemed ineligible based on the information provided by the artist.