Josh FawazAlexis WeaverAnnabelle HerdIvan ZavadaOliver BownUniversity of New South WalesRecording Industry Association of AmericaAustralian Recording Industry AssociationInternational Federation of the Phonographic IndustryUniversity of Sydney

Australia's ARIA charts ban fully AI-generated music, allowing only AI-assisted tracks; ARIA CEO calls on radio to support human artistry

Australia's ARIA charts will ban fully AI-generated music, allowing only AI-assisted tracks, effective August 31. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd urges radio to support human artistry, emphasizing the need for clear rules as generative technologies challenge traditional music creation.

DW.com DW.com+2 sources25 August 2026 · 06:52 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

Australia's ARIA charts will exclude wholly AI-generated music starting August 31, allowing only tracks that are substantially human-made with AI as a supporting tool.1

ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd stated, "These changes reflect our intent to remain dynamic and promote the human nature of artistry in what is — to say the least — a rapidly developing space."

The decision follows a backlash over an AI-generated cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer," which peaked at number two on the charts.

Herd emphasized the importance of clear rules, urging radio and other stakeholders to support human artistry.

The new guidelines align with principles from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which require eligible tracks to be "substantially human-made" and avoid artificial manipulation of streams.4

Alexis Weaver, a composer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, praised ARIA's move as a "wonderful step forward" that prioritizes human creativity.

The ARIA can refuse ineligible recordings, change chart positions, and revoke awards, ensuring that the charts reflect genuine artistry.

Herd added, "The ARIA Charts will always remain a transparent measurement of the music Australia consumes, but a chart that rewards unlicensed AI output would undercut the very basis of the recorded music we exist to represent."

Key Insight
“The ban follows a backlash over a Brisbane DJ's AI-generated cover of Madonna's 'Like a Prayer,' which peaked at number two in May and has 48.5 million Spotify streams. ARIA can revoke No. 1 awards and accreditations for ineligible tracks, and artists can challenge exclusions.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
DW.comDW.com
“The changes take effect with the ARIA chart dated August 31 and distinguish between music generated primarily by and recordings where AI is used only as a supporting creative tool.”
DW.com →
2
LivemintLivemint
“MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s recorded music industry will bar tracks wholly generated by from official charts as burgeoning generative technologies threaten artists’ livelihoods, a representative said on Tuesday.”
Livemint →
3
Al JazeeraAl Jazeera
“Australia’s official music charts have banned tracks mostly created by artificial intelligence (AI) following a backlash over a cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” that relied heavily on the burgeoning technology.”
Al Jazeera →
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