AI Music has split opinions from the moment it began hitting the mainstream. For some, if it's good, then it doesn't matter how the music came to be. While for others, the lack of human creativity means there's no true way to connect with the music. As with anything in modern-day life, the debate over this has raged on.
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However, Australia has stepped up as the first country to take meaningful action against the rise of AI-generated music. Any song that has been primarily or totally created by AI is now banned from hitting the country's music charts.
"These changes reflect our intent to remain dynamic and promote the human nature of artistry in what is, to say the least, a rapidly developing space." The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) chief executive, Annabelle Herd, said. "Artists already use AI tools in their work; the charts can and should evolve to keep room for that, but music generated wholesale by services built on artists' recordings is a different matter."
Herd then moved to make her message even simpler.
"A chart that rewards unlicensed AI output would undercut the very basis of the recorded music we exist to represent."
Australia's Decision Comes Just Days After Dr. Dre Supported AI in Music
Interestingly, ARIA's decision comes just days after legendary producer Dr. Dre shared his support for the use of AI in music production. However, Dre did provide a key caveat: AI should help enhance what you've already created, not do the creating for you.
"I had a discussion with a few people a few days ago," Dr. Dre told The New York Times. "They were against AI and I'm like, 'OK, you sound like the person that would have been against the drum machine when it came out.' Or synthesizers, right? It's a new tool for creativity. Some people are afraid of learning new things."
Dre also said that he views AI "as a tool to see what it would do with what I just did."
In essence, Dre and ARIA have a similar outlook. Both are willing to embrace AI for the good it can do. However, when music is being pumped out with little to no human input, the music industry has a problem.
Now that Australia has set a precedent, we will likely see other countries follow suit. In truth, that's probably a good thing.
