An AI-generated song and artist has topped a Billboard country chart, begging the question: Should country songwriters (beginners or experienced) turn to AI for songwriting now? Despite what the success of this history-making event might suggest, the answer is that, for money-making purposes, songwriters still can't use mostly AI for songwriting or on recordings. Find out why.
by CountryDemoStudio Staff | December, 5, 2025.
In the second week of November 2025, a history-making event occurred when an AI artist scored a No. 1 hit on a Billboard music chart. It was the first time, in any genre, that an AI artist claimed the top slot.
The chart was Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart, and the song was "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust. The song reached over 3 million streams on Spotify in less than one month, ABC News reported.
As The Tennessean phrased it, it marked the arrival of "Chartificial intelligence." The moment felt almost inevitable, and has the whole music industry discussing what this means for the future of music.
However, for our purposes, dear songwriters, our question is...
Given the fact that an AI song and artist have achieved a No. 1 status on Billboard, should songwriters be cowriting with AI? Or should songwriters turn completely to AI for song composition?
Those two questions generate more questions, such as: Will songwriters using AI, by default, force other songwriters to use AI? Will those who use AI have an advantage over all others who don't—even professionals?
Such questions are similar to the debate over trans-humanism and brain implants that might make people smarter. If some people get brain implants that increase their intelligence, will they be so intellectually superior that it will force others to do the same to compete with them, or else be left behind?
That's what some people are already wondering about the use of AI in music. It's the idea that those who don't embrace AI will be left behind by those who use it.
However, as it stands in the industry now, the answer remains much simpler.
Despite what this landmark AI achievement might suggest, it's not a bellwether event for the industry as a whole. At least not yet.
Fact check: One should keep in mind that "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust topped Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart. The two Billboard charts that matter for country music are Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. And the chart that matters the most for all songs and genres is Billboard's Hot 100. Making the Top 40 on that chart is the gold standard of a hit. So human artists and songwriters are not particularly threatened yet.
Songwriters: This AI singular success is definitely NOT a signal to songwriters that they should completely embrace AI. Songwriters must remain cautious and deliberate about the role, if any, AI should encompass within their songwriting craft.
Gatekeepers such as publishers, music licensing agencies, and the US copyright office still have strong guardrails against songs written, played, and sung by AI.
After its March 2023 and February 2024 statements on AI, plus numerous case reviews, the U.S. Copyright Office remains firm:
No major publisher (Sony/ATV, Universal, Warner Chappell, Big Machine, etc.) has announced any shift toward accepting AI-generated songs. Their internal teams remain:
The Breaking Rust event didn't reassure them—it confirmed the risk: AI can produce work similar to existing artists without permission, which is a legal minefield.
Publisher stance today:
Sync houses and libraries remain stricter than publishers because they deal with:
Even a hint of AI-generated vocals, likeness, or melody similarity to a known artist can result in a catalogue being rejected.
Sync stance today:
Performing rights organizations have updated their registration rules, but the core requirement has not changed. All major PROs now allow songs that include AI-assisted material, but they still require:
ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN have all stated variations of:
"AI is not a songwriter. Only humans can be listed as authors."
PRO stance today:
➡️ Essential Reading: ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN Update Their Policies on AI Songs: What That Really Means
Breaking Rust's success doesn't change what songwriters must do.
You can use AI, but you cannot skip human involvement.
You still must:
AI can draft.
Humans still create.
Gatekeepers still gatekeep.
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