AI music is no longer a fantasy or niche curiosity among internet sleuths — it’s here, and it’s already beginning to have an impact on Billboard’s charts.
In just the past few months, at least six AI or AI-assisted artists have debuted on various Billboard rankings. That figure could be higher, as it’s become increasingly difficult to tell who or what is powered by AI — and to what extent. Many of these charting projects, whose music spans every genre from gospel to rock to country, also arrive with anonymous or mysterious origins.
How do we know these charting titles are AI or AI-assisted? For some, their artist pages on DSPs claim their music was made with the help of AI. For others, Billboard cross-checked the songs using Deezer’s AI detection tool, which adds a flag to all AI-generated content on the platform.
One of the most prominent examples is Xania Monet, an artist with an animated avatar created by Mississippi-based songwriter Telisha “Nikki” Jones. Jones writes the lyrics and has used Suno — along with help from some other humans — to create the songs. Monet made headlines in September when she debuted on multiple Billboard charts: Hot Gospel Songs with “Let Go, Let Go” (which climbed to No. 3 on the chart dated Oct. 25) and Hot R&B Songs with “How Was I Supposed to Know?” (No. 20 peak).
There was a bidding war to sign Xania Monet with offers reaching $3 million. Hallwood Media, led by former Interscope executive Neil Jacobson, ultimately signed Monet to a multimillion-dollar deal.
Monet has since become the first known AI artist to earn enough radio airplay to debut on a Billboard radio chart, debuting at No. 30 on this week’s Adult R&B Airplay chart (dated Nov. 11). She’s also topped R&B Digital Song Sales (with “How Was I Supposed to Know?” on Sept. 20) and debuted on Emerging Artists (reaching No. 18).
Notably, at least one AI artist has debuted in each of the past four chart weeks, a streak suggesting this trend is quickly accelerating. Below is a recap of the AI artists who’ve appeared on Billboard’s charts, in order of their debuts.
ChildPets Galore
Debuted at No. 14 on Christian Digital Song Sales (dated Aug. 16) with “The Only Thing I Can Take to Heaven” (thanks to 1,000 downloads sold that week, according to Luminate). The song is credited to songwriter Cindy Hugo. To date, the artist’s catalog has earned 1.2 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate.
Xania Monet
Created by Jones using the AI platform Suno, Monet’s blend of gospel and R&B has made her perhaps the most visible AI artist to date. Jones writes about 90% of Monet’s lyrics herself, with the rest inspired by stories from her friends and community. Monet has charted on Hot Gospel Songs, Hot R&B Songs, Adult R&B Airplay and Emerging Artists, among other charts, and her catalog has amassed 44.4 million official U.S. streams.
Earlier this month, Billboard estimated that five of her songs had generated $52,000 in just over two months.
Unbound Music
The AI-assisted project by songwriter Terrance LeDoux debuted at No. 47 on the Emerging Artists chart dated Oct. 11, powered by “You Got This.” The song reached No. 10 on Rock Digital Song Sales that week with 1,000 downloads sold. Unbound’s artist bio states that its releases “combine human creativity with artificial intelligence,” with varying degrees of AI involvement. Its catalog has earned 5.5 million official streams.
Enlly Blue
The AI-assisted project by songwriter Thong Viet debuted at No. 44 on the Emerging Artists chart dated Oct. 18, thanks largely to “Through My Soul.” The song debuted at No. 15 on Rock Digital Song Sales that week with 1,000 downloads sold. Enlly’s artist bio says that the artist is “an independent blues artist” whose music blends “acoustic music, production, recording and AI-powered creativity.” Its catalog has earned 5.3 million official streams.
Juno Skye
The contemporary Christian AI-powered artist, whose songs are credited to Nguyen Duc Nam, debuted at No. 44 on the Emerging Artists chart (dated Oct. 25), largely thanks to “Lord, You Are My Strength,” which tallied 1,000 downloads that week. Juno’s catalog has earned 1.6 million official streams.
Breaking Rust
The newest entrant, Breaking Rust, debuts at No. 9 on the Emerging Artists chart (dated Nov. 1), driven by two charting songs: “Livin’ On Borrowed Time”(No. 5 on Country Digital Song Sales and No. 13 on Digital Song Sales) and “Walk My Walk” (No. 14 on Country Digital Song Sales). The former debuts with 2,000 downloads sold, while the latter debuts with 1,000 sold. The project, credited to songwriter Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, has generated 1.6 million official U.S. streams.
Earlier AI Examples
While the recent wave of AI-charting artists feels sudden, their presence on Billboard’s charts isn’t entirely new.
In 2023, Trump The Don — a parody AI project created by the rapper Hi-Rez — reached No. 5 on both the Rap Digital Song Sales and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales charts, and hit No. 45 on Digital Song Sales, with “First Day Out.” The song used AI-filtering technology to mimic Donald Trump’s voice to make it sound like he was rapping. It was released after his Fulton County arrest and subsequent viral mugshot, and received a boost in attention from several right-wing pundits.
That same month, BOI WHAT debuted at No. 14 on Hot Hard Rock Songs with “PLAN Z.” The artist creates music inspired by the Nickelodeon show Spongebob Squarepants. “PLAN Z” uses AI-filtering tools to mimic the voice of the character Plankton.
