In recent weeks, a rendition of Madonna’s popular song “Like a Prayer” gained significant airplay on Australian radio. However, this cover version faces potential exclusion from official music charts due to new regulations established by the Australian music industry. The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), responsible for overseeing the nation’s music charts, declared that tracks entirely created by artificial intelligence (AI) would be prohibited from ranking on the ARIA charts.

According to ARIA spokesperson Andrew Knowles, the association stipulated that recordings must have a substantial human contribution to be considered for chart inclusion. Tracks where generative AI predominantly generates creative elements, such as lead vocals or instruments, will not meet the eligibility criteria. Conversely, recordings where human performances take precedence with minor AI enhancements are deemed acceptable for the charts.

Additionally, ARIA emphasized its authority to remove recordings suspected of manipulating streams or charts and enforce compliance with copyright laws. Tracks produced solely by generative AI will also be ineligible for the prestigious ARIA Awards. ARIA’s CEO Annabelle Herd highlighted the importance of preserving the human aspect of music creation in the rapidly evolving landscape of the industry.

The decision follows the success of Brisbane DJ and producer Josh Fawaz’s AI-assisted rendition of “Like a Prayer,” which generated controversy during its 16-week presence on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart. Despite reaching No. 2 on the chart and maintaining the fourth position, Fawaz’s use of generative AI sparked heated debates and criticism within the music community.

Music producer Mitch Thomas publicly criticized Fawaz, accusing him of relying entirely on AI for music production. In response, Fawaz defended his approach, stating that AI serves as a tool rather than the sole creative force behind his music. The new regulations are expected to take effect next Monday, banning wholly AI-generated tracks from the ARIA charts while allowing AI-assisted music to remain eligible for ranking.

ARIA confirmed that Fawaz’s version of “Like a Prayer” failed to meet the revised eligibility criteria based on the information provided by the artist.