Industry Experts React To AI Artist Topping The Billboard Charts

AI has entered the music charts, and this is really something that is hard to ignore. Billboard reported that at least 6 AI or AI-assisted artists have made their debut on its rankings in recent months, spanning genres from gospel to rock to country. Some of these “artists” are the work of human songwriters using AI tools, while others hide behind anonymous accounts.

One of the most visible examples is Xania Monet, a virtual artist created by Mississippi songwriter Telisha “Nikki” Jones. Jones writes most of Monet’s lyrics herself and uses the AI platform Suno to generate the music. Monet’s track “Let Go, Let Go” reached No. 3 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart, while “How Was I Supposed to Know?” peaked at No. 20 on Hot R&B Songs. According to Billboard, Monet’s catalogue has gathered 44.4 million official US streams, and her songs earned $52,000 in just over 2 months.

Monet signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Hallwood Media after a $3 million bidding war and became the first known AI artist to earn enough radio airplay to appear on a Billboard radio chart. At least one AI artist has now debuted every week for 6 consecutive chart updates, which makes many wonder where on earth the music industry is heading.

Why Are Country Fans And Musicians Uneasy?

Billboard found that a third of the top 10 titles on its Country Digital Song Sales chart dated 15 November came from AI-assisted artists. Among them are Breaking Rust’s “Walk My Walk”, which spent its second week at No. 1, and Cain Walker’s “Don’t Tread on Me” at No. 3. Both acts are linked to songwriter Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor.

Sales are still modest compared to human-led hits. “Walk My Walk” sold over 2,000 copies that week, while Walker’s “Don’t Tread on Me” sold around 1,000. On the other hand, Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” sold 29,000 copies in the same period. But radio programmers have avoided adding AI voices to their playlists. Consultant Joel Raab told Billboard that research shows listeners dislike AI voices on air.

Leslie Fram of FEMco said that in country music, authenticity is the foundation of the fan connection and AI involvement risks eroding that trust. Radio manager Fletcher Foster added that AI songs take up valuable chart space that could go to real artists who tour, earn publishing revenue, and build genuine careers.

Could Regulation Protect Real Artists?

Some musicians are already pushing back. Country star Martina McBride backed the NO FAKES Act, which would protect artists’ voices and likenesses from being copied without permission. In her Billboard column, she said that while AI can be used for good, it can also be abused.

For many in the industry, the fear is that AI songs may sound polished but lack the imperfections that make music human. Fram told Billboard that casual listeners may not care at first, but devoted fans value emotion and storytelling – things an algorithm cannot feel. Raab believes human music “with heart and human soul” will outlast any machine-made trend.

Do other experts see it differently? Here’s what they think…
 

Allendra Royal-Freeman, Founder, Forreels

“The problem isn’t the presence of AI.”

“The problem is the absence of structure. When the system supports creators, the art improves. When the art improves, culture evolves. And when culture evolves, the world feels more alive. The industry isn’t choosing AI because artists lack talent. It’s choosing AI because the system for managing artists is broken.

“AI feels safer because it doesn’t bring ego, conflict, or unpredictability. That says more about the industry than it does about the artists. The world isn’t running out of artists. The world is running out of systems that know how to treat artists well.”

Matt Mandrella, Huntsville, AL’s first Music Officer

“You can’t replicate the moment a song hits different in a living room with 40 strangers or in an amphitheater with 8,000 other fans. We’re not anti-AI. We’re pro-human. We coach artists to focus on real fans and authentic engagement, not just algorithmic numbers.”

“For emerging artists, AI tools can be game-changing. They help with everything from building a website to creating visuals, and that saves time and money. We encourage artists to explore AI as an inspiration tool, not a shortcut. It should help spark ideas, not strip away originality.”

Daniel Burrus, Futurist, Global Technology Innovation Expert, and Founder, Burrus Research at Burrus Research, Inc.

“An AI artist topping the charts doesn’t mean human creativity is losing—it means it’s changing form. AI can mimic patterns, but it can’t feel rhythm, emotion, or the pulse of an audience. The future of music belongs to artists who know how to direct intelligent systems to expand, not replace, their creative voice. That’s where the real innovation will happen.”

Eugeny Naidenov, CEO and Founder, Muse Group

“AI in music is becoming a part of how creativity evolves. When an AI-generated artist tops the charts, it shows how deeply technology has entered the creative process and makes us reflect on what we truly value in music. As a company with over 400 million musicians, educators, and creators, we believe the future belongs to collaboration between humans and AI, where technology amplifies artistic expression rather than replaces it. AI can replace parts of the purely technical process, but the real value is in the human layer around it: ratings, edits, discussions, clarifications, versions – all that messy, social, emotional input that only people can produce. That’s the irreplaceable part.

“As an example, we analysed data from Ultimate Guitar and noticed a spike in interest around the AI band Velvet Sundown in 2025. However, soon after the group admitted to using AI, musicians stopped visiting tabs to perform the band’s songs. Activity dropped nearly fourfold since July 2025 compared to previous months. This shows that creators still value the human touch in music and want to connect with something real behind every song.”