Amid the proliferation of content generated by artificial intelligence, recording industry stakeholders are calling for stronger criteria that would determine how AI tracks are considered for music charts.
On Wednesday, numerous recording companies, including the “big three” (Universal Music Group (UMG), Warner Music Group (WMG), and Sony Music), released a proposal outlining eligibility guidelines for tracks that used AI in their creation process.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the global trade body representing the recording industry, backed the proposals on Thursday and said they will adopt the new set of proposals in their charts globally.
The proposal followed an earlier one made by music industry groups last July 10 for labels, similar to the “explicit” tag in tracks, for songs made using AI tools.
Setting boundaries?
UMG, WMG and Sony, together with Believe, BMG, Concord, Dirty Hit, Glassnote Records, HYBE Corp., Mom+Pop Music and Partisan Records, proposed that tracks made with the help of AI should only be allowed in charts if it used services that are “properly authorised and lawful”; if it is “substantially human made”; if it does not raise concerns about chart manipulation.
“The framework would establish a clear boundary between human-led creativity and works that are purely synthetic or generated by unauthorized AI models,” their press statement reads.
“It will also help to ensure that any tracks with a fraudulently boosted stream count are not recognised and celebrated in the charts,” they added.
“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 big three recording companies have previously sued AI music generators Suno and Udio back in 2024.
However, WMG has settled with both companies, while UMG settled with Udio last year.
At the same time, those recording giants have also signed deals related to AI, including the development of generative tools and allowing AI remixes of tracks under their catalogue.
IFPI adopts criteria
For its part, the IFPI said it will roll out the initial principles to the charts it manages across Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa and Southeast Asia.
The organisation is also working with other international charts outside of its management, including South Korea’s Circle Chart, Australia’s ARIA Charts and France’s SNEP Charts, among others.
The chart principles being rolled out by the IFPI have additional criteria, including that the song must comply with applicable intellectual property laws; the recordings must not breach the terms of the generative AI service used; and that the use of AI tools in the recordings must be stated in services like streaming platforms.
“Official music charts do more than just track sales; they celebrate human artistry and endeavor. As fans, we want to recognize the achievements of the artists creating the music we love and it’s right that charts continue to showcase music with human creativity at its heart,” IFPI chief executive officer Victoria Oakley said.
MORE MUSIC NEWS: Ariana Grande sues hackers over alleged unreleased music leaks and privacy breach
Labels for AI songs
Last July 10, the IFPI, the Recording Industry Association of America, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the European Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), The Grammys, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Human Artistry Campaign introduced two labels, namely “AI-Generated” or “AI-Assisted” to indicate how generative AI tools are integrated into the song’s creative process.
An “AI-Generated” label means the lead vocal and key instrumental recordings were generated, or if the whole song is created using a prompt, while an “AI-Assisted” label indicates that “some expressive elements” were created by AI while humans were in charge of the tune.
The labels only apply to recordings and not to album covers, compositions, lyrics, music videos and others.
AI tracks on the rise
While human-made songs still dominate the charts, several AI-generated songs have shot to the top of the rankings.
In 2025, “Walk My Walk” and “Livin’ on Borrowed Time” topped the “Viral 50” chart on Spotify US.
AI songs from psych-rock band The Velvet Sundown also amassed millions of streams on Spotify in the same year.
A study released by AI-powered editing platform Kapwing this July also revealed that the biggest AI artists on Spotify and YouTube have earned an estimated USD6.1 million from more than 2.3 billion streams on those platforms.
On Spotify, the highest-earning AI musician is 1950s-style vocalist Enlly Blue, who had reportedly earned around USD380,800 from 95.2 million streams.
Meanwhile, the top-earning AI music YouTuber is Cherry 葵 Nightcore, with an estimated USD2 million from 941 million views.
READ MORE: ‘Severance’ Season 3 begins production at Apple TV
Carmela Calling 
James Mario Ajero