On Monday, Australia's record industry body did something nobody in film or TV has done yet: it wrote the line down. Under ARIA's updated Code of Practice, a recording made with generative AI is eligible for the official charts only if it is (their words) "substantially human made" and "raises no stream or chart manipulation concerns." Wholly AI-generated tracks are out. It takes effect with the chart dated 31 August. Ineligible records also lose ARIA Award eligibility, and ARIA can revoke a Award retroactively. It got written because of one person. Josh Fawaz, a Brisbane producer, released a cover of "Like a Prayer" using AI vocals and AI drums. No. 1 on the dance chart, four weeks top of national airplay, 48 million+ streams. He added the AI credits only after a public investigation. Then I read the comments, and two of them (tied at the top, 7 likes each) say the whole thing between them. The first, from someone who clearly makes records: generate the entire track with AI, then re-record it live on real instruments. "I run it through the detectors, and it's 100% human." The second: "he screwed up… not admitting it was performed by AI… I personally wouldn't have a issue with a label that says Performed by AI." Those two aren't disagreeing. They're both saying the rule can't inspect the work, so it will end up inspecting the paperwork. Which means the rule coming for us isn't "don't use AI." It's "declare it." Fawaz wasn't punished for using the tools (he used them, he won, the record charted. He was punished for not saying so. So the concrete thing, and you can start this week: write down what you used. On the delivery, on the invoice, in the notes. Not because anyone's asking yet) because when they do, the person with a record is fine and the person without one is Fawaz in July. Have you ever declared AI use on a paid job, or has nobody ever asked? I read every reply., -
The piece
WHOLLY AI-GENERATED: INELIGIBLE THIS ONE'S FOR YOU. IN A DOCUMENT. WITH TEETH.
SOURCE: REUTERS, 26 AUG 2026 THAT'S THE LINE. CREDITS ADDED AFTER
"THE DETECTORS SAY 100% HUMAN" THE MISTAKE WASN'T USING IT. IT INSPECTS THE PAPERWORK
NOT "DON'T USE IT." "DECLARE IT." HE GOT PUNISHED FOR NOT SAYING SO. THAT GAP IS SOMEBODY'S JOB.
DO THIS THIS WEEK. THE PERSON WITH A RECORD IS FINE. HAVE YOU EVER DECLARED IT?
I READ EVERY ONE LIKE IF THAT LANDED SEND IT TO WHOEVER SIGNS OFF
Source: ARIA Charts, "ARIA Charts set eligibility rules for recordings made with AI," 25 Aug 2026; Reuters, "What Australia's ban on AI-generated music in charts means," 26 Aug 2026. Quoted comments are from a separate public commentary video on the same story (AI Creatives Connect, 26 Aug 2026), credited on screen. (More on who owns the work you made in tonight's 7:30pm post.).