Regulation AI Minute Newsroom 2026-08-27

Australia's charts now require a human to have written the song and sung the lead — the rule starts Friday

The Australian Recording Industry Association has rewritten its Charts Code of Practice to exclude tracks made wholly or mostly by generative AI, with the change taking effect on Friday 29 August 2026. AI-assisted recordings stay eligible only if they remain substantially human-made — in practice a human must have written the song and performed the lead vocal and the primary instruments — and the AI services used must be licensed ones. ARIA can now remove ineligible recordings from the charts, revise chart positions and revoke awards, with an appeals route for artists who dispute a decision. The trigger was a cover of Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' by Queensland DJ and producer Josh Fawaz, which became the most-played song on Australian radio in July and reached number four on two ARIA charts before its vocals and drums were identified as AI-generated. ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd said the policy 'gives everyone who releases music in Australia a clear rule to work to'. The move follows principles published in July by the international recording industry body IFPI, which more than 20 official chart programmes worldwide are now adopting.

Why it mattersCharts are not a beauty contest — they route radio play, playlist placement, festival slots and royalty advances. Ruling that a machine-made track cannot enter them is the first time a national industry body has drawn a hard line between AI output and the commercial ladder musicians climb, and the line is unusually specific: not 'no AI', but a human hand on the words, the lead vocal and the main instruments. Expect that wording to be copied. Twenty other chart bodies are already working from the same script, and the same question — how much machine is too much — is waiting in film, publishing and games.

#Audio & Music

✓ Verified · 3 sources

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2026-08-26

Australia's charts now require a human to have written the song and sung the lead — the rule starts Friday

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