In a recent development, a rendition of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” that gained significant airplay on Australian radio faces exclusion from official music charts due to new regulations imposed by the Australian music industry. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the nation’s music charts, declared that tracks entirely generated by artificial intelligence will no longer be permitted on the ARIA charts.
According to Andrew Knowles, a spokesperson for ARIA, the association has mandated that recordings must be predominantly created by humans to be considered for the charts. Tracks heavily reliant on generative AI for the creative aspects will be disqualified. ARIA emphasized that if the central elements of a track, such as lead vocals or instruments, are produced by AI instead of human input, the track will not meet the eligibility criteria.
Furthermore, ARIA announced its authority to eliminate recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts, ensuring compliance with copyright laws. Additionally, tracks created using generative AI will be ineligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards. ARIA’s chief executive, Annabelle Herd, stated that these changes aim to uphold the essence of human artistry in a rapidly evolving landscape.
The crackdown follows the success of a rendition of “Like a Prayer” by DJ and producer Josh Fawaz, incorporating AI-generated vocals and drums, on the ARIA charts. The controversial track, which spent weeks on the Top 20 Australian Singles chart, sparked debates regarding the use of generative AI in music production. Criticism, including accusations by music producer Mitch Thomas alleging complete AI-generation of Fawaz’s music, surfaced online.
Fawaz defended his work, stating that AI serves as a tool in his music production process. The new regulations are set to take effect next Monday, with wholly AI-generated tracks facing removal from the ARIA charts. However, music with AI assistance may still be eligible as per ARIA’s guidelines. ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s rendition of “Like a Prayer” did not meet the eligibility criteria based on the information provided by the artist.