AI-Generated Songs Face Australian Chart Ban as ARIA Tightens Eligibility Rules
Synopsis
ARIA will bar wholly AI-generated music from Australia’s official charts under rules taking effect August 28, but songs created with generative AI remain eligible when human creative input is the primary driver and the recording raises no concerns about chart or stream manipulation.
AI-generated music is to be restricted from the official ARIA charts beginning 31 August 2026, as tracks which are wholly or primarily generated by AI are no longer eligible for inclusion on the ARIA Charts.
According to the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), recordings created with generative AI may be eligible if there are no concerns about manipulation of streams or chart representation, however recordings must be ‘substantially human-made. Tracks using AI technology to generate content for eligibility must also use ‘authorised AI tools’.
Madonna Cover Highlights AI Use
After Queensland-based DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s use of AI in his remix of Madonna’s Like a Prayer made his rendition of the track the most played song on Australian radio, and second highest charting Madonna song in Australia, this latest development has occurred.
The ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles Chart placing occurred after his version had spent 16 weeks on the Australian Top 20 Chart.
In his remarks, Fawaz confirmed that human vocals and drums were created using generative AI, however in ARIA’s updated policy, recordings featuring ‘primarily AI-generated instruments or vocals’ are ineligible for inclusion.
ARIA has the authority to remove an entry if it is found to be ineligible at a later date, and can reclassify an entry and amend awards if an ineligible entry appears on a chart. The decision to remove a chart entry can be appealed to ARIA by the artist or their representative.
Global Music Market Continues to Expand
The Australian policy comes as music companies and chart compilers develop guidelines for the inclusion of AI-generated music. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Global Music Report 2026 for 2025, worldwide music revenue totaled US$31.7 billion in 2025, reflecting a 6.4% increase from the previous year.
Streaming revenue makes up over US$22 billion or 69.6% of overall recorded music revenues, with subscription streaming revenue alone’ accounting for 52.4% of all revenue, and possessing 837 million paying subscribers across the globe.
The IFPI report discusses ownership, licensing and music in AI as a part of ongoing conversations regarding the copyright implications of AI-generated music.
ARIA’s decision is a test of eligibility for a song, and not a total ban on the usage of AI in music, as the organisation’s decision does not impose a blanket ban, but rather a test of eligibility for songs which wish to appear on the charts. The decision does not impose a blanket ban but rather a test of eligibility for music charts.
Source: InformationAGE
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
