What just happened? Like a lot of people, Australia isn't a fan of music that's been wholly generated using AI. With millions of these tracks appearing on streaming services, the country's recording-industry body has officially barred them from its music charts. Starting this week, any release involving generative AI must be "substantially human made" to be eligible for a chart position.
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has updated its Charts Code of Practice to distinguish between AI-generated and AI-assisted music. The changes apply to the chart dated Monday, August 31, which will be published on Friday, August 28.
The rules don't mean all music created with AI assistance is banned. A track put together with help from generative tools can still qualify, but the service must be authorized and lawful, the finished recording must be substantially human-made, and there can be no concerns about manipulated streams or chart positions. Importantly, humans must also have written the song and performed its lead vocal and primary instruments.
ARIA can refuse an ineligible release, remove one retrospectively, recalculate chart positions, withdraw accreditations, and even demand the return of a number-one award. Any excluded recording is also barred from the ARIA Awards, though artists and their representatives will be able to appeal and submit evidence.
"Artists already use AI tools in their work, the Charts can and should evolve to keep room for that, but music generated wholesale by services built on artists' recordings is a different matter," said ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd.
The change comes after Queensland DJ Josh Fawaz's dance cover of Madonna's Like a Prayer spent four weeks atop Australia's national radio airplay chart and amassed more than 38 million Spotify streams.
The cover's credits were later updated to acknowledge AI-generated vocals and drums. ARIA hasn't formally ruled on the track, but a spokesperson said lead vocals or key instrumentals created by AI would probably make a release ineligible.
This isn't the first time an AI act has caused controversy on the charts. AI country artist Breaking Rust reached number one on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart last year with Walk My Walk. The generic-sounding virtual cowboy still attracted more than two million monthly Spotify listeners and carried a Verified Artist badge.
The amount of AI-made music has exploded recently. Spotify removed 75 million low-effort AI tracks in 2025, while bots were uploading around 100,000 songs per day. Deezer previously said about 20,000 AI-generated tracks were arriving on its service daily, with 70% of streams involving such music deemed fraudulent.
AI music can no longer chart in Australia, unless a human actually made it
