Breaking Rust's AI-Created Song Tops Billboard Chart, Raising Questions About the Future of Music

In a groundbreaking development for the music industry, "Walk My Walk," a song by the AI-generated artist Breaking Rust, has reached number one on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart. This marks the first time an entirely AI-produced track has topped this chart, signaling a significant shift in the landscape of music creation and consumption.

Breaking Rust emerged in mid-October 2025, presenting itself as a rugged, cowboy-styled figure through AI-generated visuals. The project is credited to songwriter Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, who has limited online presence and is also associated with another AI music project called Defbeatsai. This association has led to speculation about the authenticity of Taylor's identity and the extent of AI involvement in the creation process.

"Walk My Walk" has garnered over 3 million streams on Spotify, contributing to Breaking Rust's nearly 2 million monthly listeners. The song's success has sparked discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in music and its impact on traditional notions of artistry and authenticity.

A recent survey conducted by Ipsos for Deezer revealed that 97% of listeners cannot distinguish between AI-generated and human-composed music. The study, involving 9,000 participants across eight countries, highlights growing concerns over copyright, artist livelihood, and the need for transparency in music production. Notably, 73% of respondents support disclosure of AI-generated tracks, and 40% would avoid AI-created songs altogether.

In response to the influx of AI-generated content, streaming platform Deezer has implemented measures to tag these tracks and exclude them from editorial playlists and algorithmic recommendations. CEO Alexis Lanternier emphasized the importance of protecting human creativity and noted challenges in differentiating royalty payments for AI music.

The rise of AI-generated music has also prompted legal and ethical considerations. The Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, has updated its eligibility requirements to address the use of AI in music. Under the new rules, songs incorporating AI are eligible for awards as long as there is a significant human authorship component; fully AI-generated songs, however, are not eligible.

Furthermore, Tennessee became the first state to enact legislation protecting musicians and other artists against AI replication of their voices without consent. The Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act ("ELVIS Act") adds vocal likeness to the property rights that include names, photographs, and images, creating new civil actions against unauthorized AI usage of an artist's voice or likeness.

The success of "Walk My Walk" underscores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the music industry. As AI-generated music continues to gain popularity, it raises critical questions about the future of human creativity, copyright laws, and the evolving landscape of music production and consumption.