Australia’s AI Music Decision: A New Front in the Fight Over Human Creativity
September 13, 2026 – 4:47 pm
Photo by Craig Anderson
Credit: Craig Anderson
Brief Overview
ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) removed AI-generated tracks from its charts after an AI-assisted Madonna cover reached number four. Over a third of new Apple Music uploads are now reportedly AI-created. A Pew Research Center survey found that 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, rising to 73% among 18-29 year olds.
The Issue
Craig Anderson of Craigman Digital argues that the debate goes beyond merely labeling. He contends that music’s value is inextricably tied to human authorship, and AI’s benefits in one area cannot automatically justify its costs in another.
Australia’s New Rule
This August, ABC News reported that ARIA stripped machine-made tracks from its official charts, effective August 31st. This decision was prompted by an AI-assisted cover of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" becoming the most played song on Australian radio and reaching number four on the charts.
The Broader Implications
The anxiety surrounding this issue extends far beyond music. A June 2026 Pew Research Center survey revealed that:
- 52% of Americans feel more concerned than excited about AI’s role in daily life.
- 71% believe AI will lead to fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next 20 years.
- Among adults aged 18 to 29, this figure rises to 73%.
A Creative Boom survey of nearly nine hundred creative professionals found that only one in ten see AI’s effect on their field as positive.
The Rapid Growth of AI in Music
Music serves as a potent battleground for AI because the technology is advancing quickly while audiences remain attached to human-created music. More than one-third (34%) of new uploads to Apple Music this year were reported to be entirely AI-generated, according to RTE. Major AI music companies are also striking licensing deals with established music groups.
Human vs. Machine in Creative Industries
Anderson emphasizes that the current shift is happening too quickly and has too profound an impact. He questions the terms under which AI is being integrated into creative industries. The present era, he believes, moves faster and cuts deeper than previous technological shifts. “AI companies today are looking at the outcry, and they’re backpedaling,” Anderson notes.