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Major Record Labels Push Global Chart Rules to Exclude Unlicensed AI Music
A coalition of the industry’s three biggest record companies – Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group – has unveiled a new set of criteria that would bar artificial‑intelligence (AI)–generated tracks from appearing on global music charts. The proposal, issued in a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter, does not ban AI music outright. Instead, it requires a track to be largely human‑created, to use an AI tool that is properly licensed and authorized, and to be free of streaming fraud or artificial chart manipulation.
The labels say the new rules aim to protect artists’ intellectual property and to curb the wave of AI‑generated songs that are built on copyrighted material without permission. According to the joint release, many tracks flooding streaming services are produced by models trained on artists’ work without consent, and those same tracks are often linked to fraudulent streaming activity that inflates chart positions.
Under the proposed policy, a song would still qualify for global charts if it satisfies three conditions. First, the AI model used must be licensed and authorized; it cannot be trained on copyrighted music without the rights holders’ permission. Second, the song must be primarily created by a human. Third, the track must not be part of any scheme that manipulates streaming numbers.
The labels’ stance follows a high‑profile case in which an AI‑generated country song, “Walk My Walk” by the virtual artist Breaking Rust, topped Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart in 2025. While the track’s success highlighted the commercial potential of AI music, the chart’s methodology – which requires only about a thousand sales to appear – meant the song’s placement did not necessarily reflect widespread popularity.
In addition to chart rules, the record companies have been active in legal and partnership arenas. Universal, Sony and Warner filed lawsuits in 2024 against AI music‑generation platforms Suno and Udio, alleging copyright infringement for training their models on copyrighted works without consent. Warner has since settled with both platforms, and Universal settled with Udio last year. The lawsuits were part of a broader effort by the labels to enforce licensing standards.
At the same time, the labels have entered licensing agreements with AI‑technology firms. Universal has partnered with Stability AI, while Sony and Warner have worked with Nvidia and Spotify to develop authorized AI tools. These collaborations indicate that the major labels view AI music as an inevitable part of the industry, preferring to shape its terms through licensing and regulation rather than outright prohibition.
Industry observers note that the proposed chart rules could influence how streaming services and chart compilers handle AI‑generated content. If the criteria are adopted, platforms that host unlicensed AI tracks may need to implement stricter vetting processes to ensure compliance. The policy also signals to AI developers that using copyrighted material without permission will not be tolerated in chart‑eligible releases.
The coalition’s announcement follows a pattern of increasing scrutiny over AI‑generated music. In 2024, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed a lawsuit against Suno and Udio, and the companies responded by asserting that their use of copyrighted works falls under fair‑use doctrine. The legal back‑and‑forth has highlighted the tension between creative innovation and intellectual‑property rights.
As the music industry continues to grapple with AI’s impact, the labels’ proposed rules represent a concrete step toward defining the boundaries of acceptable AI use in commercial releases. Whether the criteria will be adopted by chart compilers and streaming services remains to be seen, but the announcement underscores the major labels’ intent to protect artists’ rights while engaging with emerging technology.
The next phase will involve monitoring how the new rules are implemented and whether they effectively deter the proliferation of unlicensed AI tracks. The industry will also watch how AI‑tool developers respond to the licensing requirements, as the balance between innovation and protection remains a central debate in contemporary music production.
The labels say the new rules aim to protect artists’ intellectual property and to curb the wave of AI‑generated songs that are built on copyrighted material without permission. According to the joint release, many tracks flooding streaming services are produced by models trained on artists’ work without consent, and those same tracks are often linked to fraudulent streaming activity that inflates chart positions.
Under the proposed policy, a song would still qualify for global charts if it satisfies three conditions. First, the AI model used must be licensed and authorized; it cannot be trained on copyrighted music without the rights holders’ permission. Second, the song must be primarily created by a human. Third, the track must not be part of any scheme that manipulates streaming numbers.
The labels’ stance follows a high‑profile case in which an AI‑generated country song, “Walk My Walk” by the virtual artist Breaking Rust, topped Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart in 2025. While the track’s success highlighted the commercial potential of AI music, the chart’s methodology – which requires only about a thousand sales to appear – meant the song’s placement did not necessarily reflect widespread popularity.
In addition to chart rules, the record companies have been active in legal and partnership arenas. Universal, Sony and Warner filed lawsuits in 2024 against AI music‑generation platforms Suno and Udio, alleging copyright infringement for training their models on copyrighted works without consent. Warner has since settled with both platforms, and Universal settled with Udio last year. The lawsuits were part of a broader effort by the labels to enforce licensing standards.
At the same time, the labels have entered licensing agreements with AI‑technology firms. Universal has partnered with Stability AI, while Sony and Warner have worked with Nvidia and Spotify to develop authorized AI tools. These collaborations indicate that the major labels view AI music as an inevitable part of the industry, preferring to shape its terms through licensing and regulation rather than outright prohibition.
Industry observers note that the proposed chart rules could influence how streaming services and chart compilers handle AI‑generated content. If the criteria are adopted, platforms that host unlicensed AI tracks may need to implement stricter vetting processes to ensure compliance. The policy also signals to AI developers that using copyrighted material without permission will not be tolerated in chart‑eligible releases.
The coalition’s announcement follows a pattern of increasing scrutiny over AI‑generated music. In 2024, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed a lawsuit against Suno and Udio, and the companies responded by asserting that their use of copyrighted works falls under fair‑use doctrine. The legal back‑and‑forth has highlighted the tension between creative innovation and intellectual‑property rights.
As the music industry continues to grapple with AI’s impact, the labels’ proposed rules represent a concrete step toward defining the boundaries of acceptable AI use in commercial releases. Whether the criteria will be adopted by chart compilers and streaming services remains to be seen, but the announcement underscores the major labels’ intent to protect artists’ rights while engaging with emerging technology.
The next phase will involve monitoring how the new rules are implemented and whether they effectively deter the proliferation of unlicensed AI tracks. The industry will also watch how AI‑tool developers respond to the licensing requirements, as the balance between innovation and protection remains a central debate in contemporary music production.