The music industry is actively confronting the rise of generative artificial intelligence as regulatory bodies and charts establish new boundaries. In August 2026, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) stripped machine-made tracks from its charts, ruling that songs must be substantially human-made to qualify. Meanwhile, AI-generated music has successfully breached South Korea's Melon charts, prompting intense debate over copyright registration and royalty structures.
ARIA chart eligibility rule
- ▪The Australian Recording Industry Association's rule change took effect with the August 31, 2026 chart after an AI-assisted cover of Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' reached number four.
- ▪The Australian Recording Industry Association's eligibility rules do not prohibit musicians from using generative artificial intelligence as a supporting tool.
- ▪The Australian Recording Industry Association stripped machine-made tracks from its official charts in August 2026, ruling that recordings must be substantially human-made to qualify.
AI music platform growth
- ▪More than one-third of all new music uploads to Apple Music in 2026 were reported to be entirely created by artificial intelligence, according to figures cited by RTE.
- ▪Major artificial intelligence music companies are striking licensing deals with established music groups as the technology moves quickly.
Public anxiety about AI displacement
- ▪A Creative Boom survey of nearly nine hundred creative professionals found that only one in ten view the effect of artificial intelligence on their field as positive.
- ▪The June 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that 71% of Americans believe artificial intelligence will lead to fewer jobs in the United States over the next 20 years.
- ▪A June 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that 52% of Americans feel more concerned than excited about the growing role of artificial intelligence in daily life.
South Korean chart entries
- ▪An artificial intelligence-generated song titled 'Forest of the Heart' by YouTube channel Joseon Hiphop became the first AI track to enter South Korea's Melon Top 100 on September 6, 2026.
- ▪Three songs created by Joseon Hiphop using the artificial intelligence music generator Suno have ranked on Melon's Hot 100 chart as of September 13, 2026.
- ▪The artificial intelligence-generated song 'Forest of the Heart' fell off South Korea's Melon Top 100 chart on September 8, 2026.
Copyright registration disputes
- ▪The Korea Music Copyright Association's August 2026 guideline never took effect following objections from the cultural sector and intervention by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
- ▪The Korea Music Copyright Association announced a guideline on August 3, 2026, to allow registration of human-created portions of music made using artificial intelligence.
Royalty payment structures
- ▪The Korea Music Copyright Association does not grant copyright to music created with artificial intelligence, meaning creators like Joseon Hiphop do not receive copyright royalties.
- ▪Creators of artificial intelligence music in South Korea receive neighboring rights fees when their songs are used or streamed, rather than standard copyright royalties.
Debatable claims
- ▪KOMCA's refusal to grant copyright to AI-generated music is justified
- ▪ARIA's ban on AI-generated songs from its music charts is justified
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