Australia's music charts have now prohibited songs created by AI, and this is significant news.

      AI can assist in songwriting, but it can't take center stage.

      ARIA

      Australia's music charts have taken a firm stance against AI-generated songs, and it's about time this was addressed. Beginning this week, ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association), which manages the country's official charts, has announced that every eligible release must be "substantially human-made" to qualify.

      Why take action now?

      The impetus appears to be Australian DJ Josh Fawaz, whose AI-assisted rendition of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" reached the top of the ARIA dance chart and climbed to number 2 overall. The track has garnered over 48 million streams on Spotify, and Fawaz only included generative AI credits after facing public scrutiny. This kind of controversy prompts the industry to enforce rules rather than merely discussing them.

      What qualifies as human-made?

      If you’re an artist who utilizes AI tools, here’s the good news: you aren’t completely banned. You can still employ AI for tasks like mastering, drum machines, or auto-tune. The key stipulation is that a human must write the song, lead the vocals, and perform the primary instruments. If you step into the realm of completely AI-generated content, you will no longer be eligible for the charts.

      Moreover, ARIA won’t just prevent new entries. If a song is later determined to be predominantly AI-generated, its chart position can be reevaluated, and if it has reached number one, ARIA may even reclaim the award. Artists do have the opportunity to contest their exclusion, so it is not an entirely closed-off process.

      While many view AI as a threat, some, like Peking Duk, have taken a different approach. They re-recorded their 2014 hit "High" using AI to ensure it would be played on Australian radio, playfully critiquing the current situation on social media. Band member Adam Hyde described AI-generated music as a means of "removing the human experience from life," highlighting why ARIA felt compelled to act.

      Australia is not the only country addressing this issue. Earlier this year, Sweden prohibited an AI-generated song from its charts, and it is anticipated that more regions will implement similar regulations soon, as reported by the BBC. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also committed to providing creators with the "strongest possible protection" against AI, making these chart changes part of a broader initiative across the nation.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with over a decade of expertise in the consumer technology sector.

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      As the music industry faces a surge of AI-generated content, Dr. Dre advocates for artists to embrace AI.

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