The Australian music industry has made a big decision that is creating waves across the globe. Starting this week, songs made completely by artificial intelligence will no longer be allowed on the country’s official music charts. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which runs the famous ARIA Charts, announced this change after a lot of debate about AI music.
The new rules draw a clear line between songs that are fully AI-generated and those that simply use AI as a helper. Only music that is “substantially human made” can now qualify for the charts. This means human artists still have a place at the top, while completely computer-made tracks get pushed out.
What Started This Change
The decision did not come out of nowhere. A big controversy started with a cover of Madonna’s famous 1989 hit “Like a Prayer”. Australian DJ and producer Josh Fawaz made a version of the song that used AI-generated vocals and drums.
This track became incredibly popular. It spent 16 weeks in the Australian top 20 and even reached number four in July. The song became one of the most played tracks on Australian radio and gathered over 48 million streams on Spotify.
Many people in the music industry criticized Fawaz for using AI so heavily. Music producer Mitch Thomas publicly accused Fawaz of relying too much on AI tools. At first, the song’s credits listed the original songwriters and Fawaz as the producer. But after the controversy grew, Fawaz changed the Spotify credits to show that AI was used for the vocals and drums.
“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.” – Annabelle Herd, ARIA Chief Executive
How the New Rules Work
The updated ARIA Charts Code of Practice takes effect from the chart dated August 31, 2026, which gets published on August 28. Under these new rules, a recording made with generative AI can only qualify if it meets two main conditions:
- It is substantially human made
- It raises no stream or chart manipulation concerns
ARIA also added a third condition that the recording must follow all applicable laws, including copyright rules.
To figure out what counts as AI-generated versus AI-assisted, ARIA will use a labeling standard announced by the global music community on July 10. Here is what the rules mean in simple terms:
A track is NOT eligible if:
- An AI generates the lead vocal
- An AI creates any key instrumental part of the song
A track IS eligible if:
- A human sings the lead vocal, even if AI does backing vocals
- AI is used for mastering
- AI helps with stem separation
- AI drum machines or instrument patches are used, but a person actually plays them
AI-generated music will also not be allowed for the ARIA Music Awards.
What Happens If a Song Breaks the Rules
ARIA has the power to take action against any recording that does not follow the new rules. The organization can:
- Refuse to accept the recording for the charts
- Remove it from the charts, either now or even looking back at past charts
- Change chart positions
- Take away awards and accreditations
- Ask for any ARIA #1 Award to be returned
Artists and their representatives can challenge a decision if they believe their recording was wrongly excluded. They can provide evidence to support their case. Disputed tracks can be referred to the ARIA Chart and Marketing Committee and then to the ARIA Board.
How the Industry Is Reacting
The music industry has mostly welcomed this move. Many musicians, songwriters, and producers have been asking governments to protect their creative work. They have criticized AI tools that produce tracks with very little human input and without giving proper credit to artists.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music composer and lecturer Alexis Weaver praised ARIA’s decision. She called it a “wonderful step forward” that sends a clear message about the value of human artistry.
ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd explained why these changes matter.
“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.” – Annabelle Herd, ARIA Chief Executive
A Global Movement
Australia’s decision is part of a bigger trend happening around the world. In July 2026, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) released new principles for AI and music charts. These guidelines state that to qualify for official charts, a track must be “substantially human made”.
More than 20 official chart programs internationally have already started adopting similar rules. The IFPI also raised concerns about AI models being trained on artists’ music without getting permission from the rights holders.
A similar case happened in Sweden, where a song credited to an artist named Jacub got nearly five million Spotify streams and topped a national chart. It was later pulled after being ruled as primarily AI-generated.
The BBC has also set out a similar approach for deciding which music it plays and features in its programs. BBC Director of Music Lorna Clarke said in July 2026 that their priority would be music which is the result of meaningful human creativity.
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What This Means for Artists and Fans
For everyday music fans, this change means the songs they hear on the ARIA Charts will come from real human artists. The charts will continue to show what music Australia is actually listening to, but without rewarding fully computer-made tracks.
For musicians, the rules give clear guidance. They can still use AI tools to help with their work, but the main creative parts must come from humans. This protects artists’ livelihoods and ensures that human creativity stays at the center of the music industry.
The federal government in Australia is also working on new rules for AI and data centres that would include strong copyright protections for Australian creators.
The controversy over Josh Fawaz’s “Like a Prayer” cover shows just how much debate AI music has created. The track became the most-played song on Australian radio last month and as of this week, it still sits in the top 10 of the National Airplay Chart. It has been played more on Australian radio than songs by Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims that came out around the same time.
Fawaz responded to the criticism by saying AI was simply a tool he used. He told his critics to stop overreacting. But under the new rules, his cover version may not qualify for the charts going forward.
The ARIA changes give everyone who releases music in Australia a clear rule to work with. The organization has also called on radio stations and other parties to support human artistry and make similar changes in their own codes.
Also Read: Australia’s Music Charts Ban AI Songs After Madonna Cover Sparks Outrage
Thank you for reading this article on VvipTimes. Stay connected for more updates on how the music industry is evolving in the age of artificial intelligence.
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