Australian DJ adds AI credits to chart-topping 'Like a Prayer' cover

Australian DJ and music producer Josh Fawaz has officially credited generative AI for vocals and drums on his chart-topping single 'Like a Prayer.' This move follows an ABC investigation into the production of the song, a cover of Madonna's 1989 hit, which has held the number one spot on Australian national airplay charts for four consecutive weeks.

The use of AI in music production has sparked significant discussion within the industry and among fans. Spotify, in response to an ongoing effort that has seen 75 million "spammy tracks" removed from its platform over the past year, is now urging artists who utilize AI to declare its use through a new beta feature on the app. Fawaz's decision to add AI credits to 'Like a Prayer,' featured on his album 'Dance Like Everyone's Watching,' aligns with this push for transparency.

'Like a Prayer' has achieved substantial success, with over 38 million streams on Spotify alone. It currently ranks number one on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Dance Singles chart and number four on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles chart. Internationally, the song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and is currently number 13. In the UK, it reached number two on the Official Independent Singles Breakers chart after peaking at number one. The song's success, coupled with the controversy surrounding its AI production, mirrors the original song's impact in 1989, which generated significant controversy for its religious and sexual themes.

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We are urging legitimate artists who use AI to declare so on the platform using a new beta feature on the app.