Several record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, have put forward a proposal governing whether AI-generated songs can appear on music charts. Under their plan, such tracks would be excluded from international charts unless they satisfy specific criteria, including being “substantially human” made. The proposal would also require songs to be clearly labeled.
The labels’ approach goes further than a separate labeling proposal advanced by the RIAA, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), SAG-AFTRA, and others, which would establish standardized labels for AI-generated and AI-assisted music rather than restrict chart eligibility.
Why it matters
Charts are a key measure of commercial success in the music industry. Rules that limit chart eligibility for AI songs could shape how AI-assisted and AI-generated music is created, marketed, and disclosed.
Who should care
Artists, songwriters, labels, and industry bodies weighing how to handle AI in music production and distribution should follow how these proposals develop.