The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has officially banned songs created entirely with artificial intelligence from its music charts, a move that follows a controversial AI-generated cover of Madonna’s 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” reaching number one in July.
The new rules, which took effect this week, amend ARIA’s Code of Practice and respond to what the organization called a “rapidly developing space” in music production. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), tracks that are wholly generated by AI will no longer be eligible for the charts, while songs that use AI in a supporting role can still qualify—provided they are “substantially human-made” and raise “no stream or chart manipulation concerns.” Artists will also be required to disclose any AI use in their work.
The Cover That Started It All
The ban comes after a cover of Madonna’s classic song, released earlier this year by Queensland-based DJ Josh Fawaz, climbed to the top of the Australian charts in July after spending weeks in the top 20. The track featured AI-generated vocals and drums, and quickly drew fierce backlash from local artists and fans. In response to the criticism, Fawaz reportedly added an AI disclaimer to the song’s credits.
Despite the controversy, the BBC reported that the cover has become a “staple” on Australian radio stations, amassing more than 48 million streams on Spotify alone.
ARIA’s Response
In a statement reported by the BBC, ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said the changes reflect the organization’s intent “to remain dynamic and promote the human nature of artistry in what is, to say the least, a rapidly developing space.”
“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,” Herd continued. “A chart that rewards unlicensed AI output would undercut the very basis of the recorded music we exist to represent.”
Under the new rules, ARIA has the authority to refuse a recording, reposition or remove a track from the charts, and withdraw any awards if it is later revealed that a song was largely generated with AI. Artists can challenge these decisions if they choose.
Industry Backlash and Broader Concerns
The move comes amid growing unease among Australian music producers and artists about AI’s role in the industry. The Guardian reported in June that several prominent Australian musicians had escalated their protests after discovering that millions of tracks—including vast catalogues from Australian artists—were scraped from the internet to train AI music models without permission.
Music producer Mitch Thomas told the ABC that his biggest concern is how AI music is made, noting that it relies on training datasets of copyrighted material taken from artists who never consented to having their works used.
“We dislike when people use steroids and cheat in competition because we acknowledge that that’s unfair and I think the same is true in music,” Thomas said in July.
The new ARIA rules apply to the charts scheduled for August 31, and are widely seen as a direct response to the “Like a Prayer” cover and the broader debate it ignited over authenticity, consent, and the future of music creation.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/08/25/ai-generated-songs-banned-from-australian-music-charts/