It might not be able to strum a banjo, but could a computer ever win a coveted Golden Guitar?

That is the question facing the Country Music Association of Australia after AI-generated songs were submitted for the 2026 Golden Guitar Awards.

At the nominations announcement in Sydney on Tuesday, CMAA chair Dobe Newton said more than 280 judges made a quick decision to ban entries without human involvement, after five fully-generative (AI generated) tracks were submitted.

"They were not associated with any known artist or performer, and in the words of one of the judges, they were 'crap',"

Mr Newton said.

Mr Newton said in the years to come, it will be a challenge to determine how much AI technology is accepted in the awards.

With those concerns front of mind, Mr Newton said he is canvas

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