Music Companies Demand More Scrutiny of AI-Generated Tracks Before Chart Debuts

A collection of record labels — including labels such as Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music — on Wednesday proposed a new set of guidelines for how AI-generated music could chart, demanding only tracks that were “substantially human made” qualify for the industry’s measure of success.

Other groups and labels part of the coalition include Believe, BMG, Concord, Dirty Hit, Glassnote Records, HYBE Corp., Mom+Pop Music and Partisan Records. The proposed criteria for chart inclusion include whether the AI-generated track used services that were “properly authorised and lawful”; whether they were “substantially human made”; whether they don’t raise concerns over whether the track manipulated streams or the charts; and that the tracks disclose on platforms that they were made using generative AI.

“The framework would establish a clear boundary between human-led creativity and works that are purely synthetic or generated by unauthorized AI models,” the groups said in a press release. “It will also help to ensure that any tracks with a fraudulently boosted stream count are not recognised and celebrated in the charts. These principles would enable official charts to accommodate appropriate use of AI in the creative process whilst remaining an authentic celebration of human artistry.”

The proposed guidelines come as many of the labels have sued generative music platforms such as Suno and Udio over training their models on their tracks. It also comes as some AI-generated tracks and artists have appeared on various Billboard charts, including the Hot Gospel Songs chart and the Hot R&B Charts, though none have broken out onto the Hot 100. (A spokesperson for Billboard, which is owned by Variety parent Penske Media Corporation, did not respond to an immediate request for comment.)

Earlier this month, a collection of groups representing musicians and the music industry at large — including the RIAA, IFPI, the Grammys and SAG-AFTRA — proposed a new labeling program that would indicate whether a song has been produced wholly or substantially with AI.