AI-generated tracks banned from Australia's official music charts
Tracks with "assistance" from AI will still be eligible, though only if they are "substantially human-made"
AI-generated tracks have been prohibited from entering Australia's official music charts.
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced the move in a statement on August 25, confirming that "wholly AI-generated tracks will not be eligible" for ARIA Charts, including its Top 50 Singles and Albums lists.
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Tracks created with "assistance" from AI will still be eligible, though they will have to meet the criteria of being "substantially human-made" and "raise no stream or chart manipulation concerns" in order to be permitted.
In its statement, ARIA said that it would be judging eligibility based on the labelling programme introduced in the joint-proclamation on July 10 from global music industry heavyweights, such as the GRAMMYs and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
"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," says ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd.
"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."
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"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 continues.
"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."
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, get in touch with her here.
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