Should AI Music Be on the Billboard Charts? The comments say “No.”
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From Xania Monet to Breaking Rust’s viral song “Walk My Walk,” synthetic songs built on human music are now competing directly with the creators they learned from.
By: T.O.P News
Published: November, 17 2025
Photo Credit: Breaking Rust Instagram
Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from an experimental technology to a polarizing subject inside the music industry. Earlier this month, Billboard reported that “in just the past few months, at least six AI or AI-assisted artists have debuted on various Billboard rankings.” The outlet noted that the actual number could be even higher, since it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine who or what is powered by AI and to what extent.
The debate intensified after the rise of Xania Monet, an AI-driven music project whose creator, Telisha “Nikki” Jones, appeared on CBS Mornings and Tamron Hall to explain her process. She stated that she writes the lyrics and uses the AI platform Suno to generate the melodies, production, vocals, and overall sound. Suno is currently facing lawsuits from major music labels that allege that the system was trained on copyrighted music without consent.
The comment section under the Tamron Hall interview with Nikki on YouTube revealed concerns. Many commenters rejected AI-generated music outright, saying they did not want “AI-generated music anywhere near real artists,” while others questioned who actually performs the vocals and warned that AI represents “a fast track to the top of the industry” that pushes human talent aside. A few praised Nikki’s creativity, but most expressed discomfort and skepticism about the impact of AI on real musicians.
The CBS interview drew an even stronger response. One of the top comments read, “Billboard needs an AI chart and should not rank them among real voices and real people,” reflecting a clear demand for separation between AI and human artists. Several echoed Gayle King’s remark that “you can’t sing,” arguing the project replaces human skill rather than showcasing it. Others raised ethical concerns about AI training data, asking why the artists whose voices are used to train these systems are not being compensated. Some commenters supported Nikki, but the vast majority expressed distrust and frustration.
While that conversation was still unfolding, another moment pushed AI into the center of the country music ecosystem. Breaking Rust, an act that several news outlets, including Newsweek, have identified as AI-generated, reached the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart with the song “Walk My Walk.” The exact creative methods behind the project have not been publicly confirmed.
When Billboard posted an article about Nashville executives discussing AI’s growing presence in country music, the reaction from fans in the Instagram comments was overwhelmingly critical. Many questioned whether AI-generated music should be eligible for chart consideration. Commenters argued that allowing AI releases to chart undermines artists who spend years developing their craft.
One fan wrote that “AI is not real music” and said it should not be placed “anywhere near actual artists' content.” Another urged Billboard to “update the rules so that only human artists can chart,” while others called for an entirely separate system for AI-generated music. A different commenter said AI “should be banned from the charts” and encouraged Billboard to create enforceable policies.
Some fans expressed frustration with the media attention itself. One comment read, “The more you shine a light on AI music, the worse you’re making the situation by bringing more attention to it,” arguing that coverage takes space away from human artists who rely on visibility to build real careers.
Although the tone of the comments varied, the message was consistent. Fans do not want AI-generated music competing directly with human creators on one of the industry’s most trusted charting platforms.
This reaction comes at a time when the industry is already wrestling with broader questions about transparency, data usage, and the economic impact of AI. Music creators have raised serious concerns about how their work is being used as training data and how AI-generated releases could further destabilize already fragile income streams. The public response signals that the issue has moved beyond industry insiders and now involves the broader listening community.
Breaking Rust’s chart appearance, along with the rise of projects like Xania Monet, highlights a pivotal turning point. AI-generated music is no longer just a technological experiment. It is an active participant in the commercial music marketplace.
Fans are calling for Billboard to take a clear stance on whether AI should appear on the same charts as human artists. Whether the company responds with new rules remains to be seen.