ARIA Rejects AI Committee Claims Citing 27 Deals

ARIA and PPCA issued a strong rebuttal on October 13, 2026 rejecting assertions by co-chairs of Australia's Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence that current copyright laws are failing creators in the AI era.

🔍 What exactly did ARIA call "wrong"?

In response to live TV comments by committee co-chairs Jo Briskey and Jono Duniam, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd stated the claims ignore substantial evidence the committee received. ARIA argues Australian copyright law gives creators control and is the key protection against unchecked access by major American AI companies. The statement emphasizes that changing the law is not needed when licensing deals are already being completed successfully.

📊 How many AI licensing deals prove the point?

ARIA's submission listed 18 major global AI deals between AI companies and the music industry. Nine additional agreements have been announced since, bringing the total to 27. Many involve Australian artists and locally headquartered record companies. These deals demonstrate that global licensing works within existing copyright frameworks, allowing rights holders to retain control and negotiate remuneration without new legislation that might dilute protections.

🎛️ What this means for your next song

With major labels striking licensing partnerships that feed into tools like Suno v6, the focus for creators shifts toward using officially trained models and adding distinctive personal touches. Leverage the /tools/style Artist Clone feature to transform reference artists into precise Suno prompts that respect licensed training data while expressing your unique voice. Combine this with your own lyric writing and structural decisions so the final track reflects human creativity on top of licensed AI foundations. This approach aligns with the direction rights holders are pushing and positions your music better for future platform policies and potential revenue shares.

🌐 What does this mean for the global AI music industry?

The ARIA statement reinforces that efficient licensing systems already cover 90% of the world's sound recordings through deals with major labels and Merlin for independents. It directly counters narratives from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic seeking relaxed rules. For Suno users this validates the shift toward licensed training data seen in v6 while highlighting ongoing tension around training practices. Creators benefit when rights holders maintain control, as it can lead to more transparent compensation models and clearer rules about what constitutes fair use versus infringement. The Australian pushback adds to similar developments worldwide where industry bodies defend existing copyright frameworks against calls for broad exceptions.