AI artist Xania Monet makes history with Billboard chart debut

Xania Monet has officially become the first AI-created artist to chart on the US Billboard rankings, marking a major moment in the ongoing collision between artificial intelligence and the music industry.

According to Billboard, the AI-based project earned enough radio airplay to debut at No. 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, with Monet’s single ‘How Was I Supposed to Know?’ also reaching No. 1 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart. Since its release, the track has appeared across several Billboard categories, including Hot Gospel Songs, Hot R&B Songs and Emerging Artists, signalling a new chapter for how AI-generated music interacts with traditional charts.

Monet is described on Apple Music as a “contemporary R&B vocalist”, but behind the voice sits Telisha “Nikki” Jones, a Mississippi poet and designer who uses generative software to turn her poetry into songs. Back in September, Jones reportedly signed a multi-million-dollar record deal with Hallwood Media following a label bidding war, underscoring the fast-growing industry interest in AI-powered music.

Not everyone in the scene is celebrating. R&B star Kehlani shared her frustration on TikTok, describing AI’s rise in music as “so beyond out of our control,” and warning that such systems can replicate copyrighted work without crediting the artists who inspired them.

As AI continues to reshape the boundaries of creativity, Monet’s chart success raises new questions about authorship, artistry, and what it means to “make” music in 2025.

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Header image credit: Xania Monet / Facebook.com