Music Giants UMG, WMG, Sony, and HYBE Propose New Principles to Strengthen AI Song Chart Eligibility

Major music companies, including Universal Music Group (UMG), Warner Music Group (WMG), Sony Music, and HYBE, have introduced a set of principles aimed at establishing guidelines for the eligibility of AI-generated songs on music charts. This proposal comes in response to the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence in music production and the need for clarity in how these songs are evaluated for chart placement.

Proposed Guidelines for AI-Generated Songs

The initiative outlines four key eligibility criteria for songs that utilize AI technology. First, the AI platform employed in the song’s creation must be authorized. Second, the song must adhere to copyright laws, related rights, and personality rights. Third, any use of AI within the song must be clearly communicated and labeled. Lastly, the track should be predominantly created by a human to avoid concerns regarding chart manipulation or streaming integrity.

The framework aims to delineate the boundary between human creativity and works that are entirely synthetic or produced by unauthorized AI models. According to a press release accompanying the announcement, this initiative seeks to prevent tracks with artificially inflated streaming counts from being recognized on music charts.

Context of the Proposal

This proposal follows a similar initiative from a coalition of music organizations, including the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM). This coalition suggested a tagging system for AI-generated songs on streaming platforms, akin to the explicit content labels currently in use. Their proposed system would feature two tags: “AI-generated” for songs created entirely by AI and “AI-assisted” for those that incorporate AI elements.

The record labels’ current proposal specifies that songs labeled as “AI-generated” should not be eligible for chart placement. As of now, neither the tagging system nor the principles proposed by the music companies have been formally adopted by any streaming service or charting organization, including the Billboard charts.

Industry Response and Future Directions

The companies involved in the recent proposal expressed their readiness to collaborate with chart compilers and industry stakeholders globally to discuss these principles and support their implementation. A representative for Billboard did not provide comments at the time of reporting.

The push for these guidelines reflects a growing concern within the industry regarding the impact of AI on music creation. French streaming service Deezer recently reported that up to 50% of its daily uploads are fully AI-generated, a claim that has been met with skepticism from various sources. A recent Luminate report indicated that 42% of respondents expressed less interest in songs created with generative AI.

In 2024, the RIAA, UMG, WMG, and Sony filed lawsuits against AI music companies Suno and Udio, arguing that AI-generated tracks could compete unfairly with human-created music. UMG and WMG have since settled with Udio, while WMG has also reached a settlement with Suno.

Tracking AI-Generated Music

Deezer has begun implementing a system to track AI-generated songs, while Spotify announced its own tools in April to help artists disclose AI usage through their distributors. Apple Music introduced “Transparency Tags” in March, requiring distributors to provide information on AI usage in artwork, tracks, compositions, and music videos. In June, Tidal announced it would not monetize AI-generated content, placing the responsibility for disclosure on distributors.

The ongoing lawsuits against Suno and Udio highlight legal concerns surrounding AI-generated music models trained on copyrighted works without proper licensing. These issues raise questions about the potential displacement of human creators and the dilution of royalty pools for artists. The proposed requirement that AI-generated services used in music creation be “properly authorized and lawful” could further complicate the eligibility of such music for charts, especially given the current ambiguity in U.S. courts regarding AI and copyright law.

As reported by www.billboard.com.

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Published on 2026-07-29 19:21:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk