Australia’s music charts will no longer accept songs that are largely or wholly created by artificial intelligence, with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) introducing new eligibility rules from the chart dated Monday 31 August 2026. Music that uses AI as a supporting tool can still qualify, but recordings must be “substantially human made” and must not raise concerns about stream or chart manipulation.
The new rules follow controversy surrounding Australian DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer”, which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart and topped the ARIA Dance Singles Chart earlier this year. The track remains high in the charts, sitting at No. 4 on the Australian Singles Chart for the week of 24 August.
What ARIA’s new AI music rules mean
ARIA’s updated Code of Practice distinguishes between AI-generated and AI-assisted recordings.
A recording created using generative AI will only be eligible for the charts if it is substantially human made and does not raise stream or chart manipulation concerns. ARIA has adopted definitions developed through the wider global music industry’s AI framework.
AI use itself has not been banned from chart-eligible music.
Artists can continue using AI tools as part of their creative and production process, provided humans remain responsible for the core musical performance and creative work. ARIA’s definition of AI-assisted music specifically allows generative AI to contribute some expressive elements where humans perform the lead vocal and primary instruments.
The distinction is intended to leave room for established production tools and emerging technology while preventing wholly synthetic recordings from competing for chart recognition alongside predominantly human-created music.
Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted “Like A Prayer” sparked the debate
The policy change comes after intense attention around Fawaz’s version of Madonna’s 1989 hit “Like A Prayer”.
The track became a major Australian streaming and radio success, reaching No. 2 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart and No. 1 on the Dance Singles Chart. It was also the most-played song on Australian radio for a period during the controversy surrounding its production.
Fawaz subsequently added generative AI credits to the release, identifying AI-generated vocals and drums. ABC News reported that the track had attracted questions over the use of generative AI before those credits were added.
The song has continued to perform strongly. On the ARIA Australian Singles Chart dated 24 August, it was at No. 4, with a peak position of No. 2.
ARIA can remove AI-generated music retrospectively
The new rules give ARIA significant powers if a recording is subsequently found to be ineligible.
The organisation can exclude or remove a recording from its charts, including retrospectively, adjust chart positions and withdraw accreditations. If an ineligible track has received an ARIA No. 1 Award, ARIA can revoke the award or request that it be returned.
An ineligible recording will also not qualify for an ARIA Award.
Artists and their representatives can challenge an exclusion through an updated disputes process and provide evidence that a recording meets the eligibility requirements.
ARIA also says the rules will be reviewed as AI technology and policy develop.
Artists must declare AI use
Artists and rights holders submitting recordings for chart consideration will be required to declare AI use.
That creates a clearer distinction between music where AI has been used as part of production and recordings where generative AI has created the principal musical elements.
ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said the organisation wanted its rules to accommodate legitimate use of AI while protecting human-created music.
“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. 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 also warned that unlicensed AI-generated music could undermine the purpose of official charts.
“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.”
She added:
“We have worked closely with IFPI and a number of international industry bodies to understand how to best implement these changes in a way that is both clear and future-facing.”
The changes also extend beyond the charts themselves. Herd called on radio and other organisations responsible for deciding which music reaches Australian audiences to adopt similar protections for human-created music.
“This gives everyone who releases music in Australia a clear rule to work to. We call on all parties who have a role in deciding the music played and promoted to Australian audiences, particularly radio, to support human artistry and implement similar changes across their own codes.”
Australia’s rules follow a global music industry framework
ARIA’s policy follows principles announced by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in July 2026.
The global framework establishes three core conditions for recordings developed using generative AI to qualify for official charts: the AI service must be authorised and lawful, the recording must be substantially human made, and it must not raise concerns about stream or chart manipulation.
IFPI said the principles would initially be applied to official charts it directly manages across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, while its national network works to extend the framework to more than 20 additional chart programmes.
That makes Australia’s move part of a wider attempt by the recorded music industry to establish consistent rules around AI-generated music and chart eligibility.
AI music faces growing scrutiny from official charts
Australia is not the first country to restrict AI-generated recordings from its official charts. Sweden recently removed an AI-created song from its charts, while other chart organisations are developing rules to distinguish human-led recordings from music generated primarily by AI.
The issue is becoming increasingly important as generative AI tools make it possible to create complete songs, vocals and instrumental performances with limited human involvement.
For artists and music creators, ARIA‘s new rules establish a relatively clear principle: using AI during production is not automatically disqualifying, but the recording must retain substantial human creative and performance input if it is to compete on Australia’s official charts.
