Major record labels propose rules to block AI-made songs from charts

In short: Major record labels are pushing for new rules that would keep many AI-made songs off official music charts.

What happened

Several record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, have proposed new “global principles” for music charts. These are guidelines that chart groups could use to decide which songs are allowed to rank on official charts.

The basic idea is simple. If a recording was made using generative AI (tools that can create audio from a text prompt, like telling a computer “make a pop song”), it should not appear on charts unless it meets several conditions.

One key condition is that the song must be “substantially human made.” The proposal does not clearly define what that means. The labels also say AI-made recordings should be clearly labeled for listeners.

The proposed criteria also say the AI tool must be used legally, the AI system should have rights to the data it learned from (training data, which is like the example library the system studied), and the song should not involve streaming or chart manipulation. It also must follow copyright and other relevant laws, and follow the AI tool’s terms of service.

The music trade group IFPI has supported the proposal. So far, no major chart organization has announced plans to adopt it.

Why it matters

Charts affect which songs get attention, money, and career opportunities. For everyday listeners, these rules could shape whether charts reflect what people are actually choosing to hear, or get flooded by cheap, mass-produced tracks (like spam filling an inbox).

Source: The Verge AI