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Australia's music industry to ban fully AI-generated tracks from official charts and awards

New rules require songs to be substantially human-made and produced with authorized tools to remain chart-eligible.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 17:23 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) will exclude tracks completely generated by artificial intelligence from its official charts and awards starting next week.
  • Songs using AI will remain eligible only if humans wrote the song, performed lead vocals, and played primary instruments, and if the tools utilized are legally authorized.
  • The policy change comes after an AI-assisted cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" spent 16 weeks in the Australian top 20 rankings.

Key facts

  • ARIA announced that fully AI-generated tracks will be barred from official charts starting the following Monday, and will also be ineligible for ARIA awards.[PBS NewsHour]
  • To qualify for charts and awards under the new guidelines, humans must write the song, perform the lead vocals, play the primary instruments, and utilize authorized AI services.[PBS NewsHour]
  • An Australian producer's AI-assisted remix of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" reached number two on the Australian singles chart in May and spent 16 weeks in the top 20.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The updated rules align with principles published in July by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which state chart tracks must be substantially human-made.[PBS NewsHour]

Sources