The cover of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” recently gained significant airplay on Australian radio stations. However, it now faces exclusion from official music charts in Australia due to new regulations established by the country’s music industry. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the official music charts, declared that tracks entirely created by artificial intelligence would no longer be permitted on the charts.
According to ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles, the association mandated that recordings must have a substantial human element to qualify for the ARIA charts. Tracks where generative AI primarily produced the creative components, such as lead vocals or instruments, would not meet the eligibility criteria. However, recordings where AI was used in a minor capacity alongside human performances would still be considered for the charts.
ARIA emphasized its authority to remove recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts and stated that tracks must abide by copyright laws. Additionally, songs generated by generative AI would not be eligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards. ARIA’s CEO Annabelle Herd explained that these changes aimed to uphold the human aspect of artistry in a rapidly evolving industry.
The crackdown follows the success of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s rendition of “Like a Prayer,” which incorporated AI-generated vocals and drums and had a notable presence on the ARIA charts. The track sparked debates and criticism regarding the use of generative AI in music production. Music producer Mitch Thomas criticized Fawaz online, alleging that his music was entirely AI-generated. Fawaz defended his work, stating that he uses AI as a tool in music creation.
Starting next Monday, fully AI-generated tracks will be prohibited from the ARIA charts, while AI-assisted music may still qualify. ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s cover of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the eligibility requirements based on the information provided by the artist.