ARIA’s AI music rules: check the recording’s role, not just an AI label

The policy and its starting date

ARIA announced its eligibility change on August 25. The update applies from the chart dated August 31, published August 28. Its announcement excludes wholly AI-generated recordings while retaining eligibility for substantially human-made recordings using AI in a supporting role, subject to the other requirements. ARIA also describes a process for disputing an exclusion and supplying evidence.

Sources: Australian Recording Industry Association: ARIA announcement of AI-related eligibility changes

Create a production-role checklist

Begin with the specific recording, not a claim about the artist’s entire catalogue. A demo, a master and a later remix may have different production histories. A useful evidence request asks where a tool affected the released sound and who can document that stage.

1. Identify the release by title, artist, version and release identifier where available. Avoid mixing a remix or re-recording with the original master.
2. Record the chart and week at issue. Read the rule version that applies to that week rather than assuming a later announcement governed every earlier chart.
3. List production roles separately: lead voice, instruments, backing elements, arrangement, editing and mastering. Mark each as documented, reported or unknown; do not guess from an unusual sound.
4. Check artist and production credits against any statement about AI use. A tool used during preparation does not necessarily appear in the final recording, while an omitted credit does not prove no AI was used.
5. If reporting an eligibility dispute, link to the official explanation and distinguish the decision from the artist’s response. Keep any review or appeal status current rather than treating an initial exclusion as permanently settled.

Avoid claims the rule does not establish

Do not turn a chart-eligibility report into a claim that a song has been removed from streaming services, violates copyright or deceived every listener. Those conclusions need different evidence. Conversely, a track’s availability on a service does not establish its eligibility for a chart. An album-cover image check cannot identify the production method of the music, and isGenAI does not provide an audio classification for this policy.

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