AI Artist Breaking Rust Tops Billboard Country Chart in Historic First for the Music Industry

The track “Walk My Walk,” entirely generated by artificial intelligence under the moniker Breaking Rust, has secured the number one spot on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart. This monumental achievement marks the first instance of a fully AI-generated track leading a major US country music chart, a significant milestone reached in mid-November 2025.

While the Breaking Rust project was initiated by songwriter Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, the actual execution of every musical component—including the vocals, instrumental parts, lyrics, and production—was carried out exclusively by generative AI, bypassing the need for a human performer.

The chart-topping single has amassed more than 3 million streams on Spotify. This follows the success of the previous October single, which hit an impressive 4.5 million streams. The artist’s monthly listenership now exceeds 2 million listeners, driven by a social media strategy that utilizes AI-generated videos adhering to the Outlaw Country aesthetic, carefully concealing the project's technological origins.

The Identity Question: Blending Tech and Tradition

In stark contrast to Taylor’s earlier, overtly AI-focused ventures, such as DefbeatsAI, Breaking Rust’s music is meticulously styled to emulate traditional mainstream country. This stylistic choice is defined by several key characteristics:

• A gritty, “live” vocal delivery;

The precise role of Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor remains shrouded in mystery. His digital footprint is largely confined to the DefbeatsAI project, leading some industry analysts to speculate that even the supposed “creator” might be a virtual entity designed to provide a human face to the algorithm.

The Algorithmic Ascent: AI’s Growing Chart Presence

The success of Breaking Rust is not an isolated incident; rather, it fits into a much larger industry trend. Billboard data reveals that for four consecutive weeks, the charts have featured at least one AI artist or AI-assisted musical project, signaling a paradigm shift in music consumption.

These synthetic performers are not merely appearing; they are actively displacing some rising human artists within the lucrative digital sales niches. Concurrently, the virtual singer Xania Monet has emerged in the R&B charts, achieving the distinction of being the first AI artist to receive radio rotation.

Industry Scrambles for Regulation

Streaming platforms are responding to this influx of AI content with varying strategies. Spotify is implementing AI filters designed to combat spam, though it places no restrictions on the uploading of AI-generated music. Conversely, Deezer has opted to flag AI-created music with clear pop-up warnings.

Meanwhile, major players like Universal Music Group are engaged in critical discussions regarding legal frameworks. This urgency stems from projections indicating that up to 20% of all music released in 2025 could potentially be created by artificial intelligence.

The triumph of “Walk My Walk” clearly demonstrates that the listening public is ready to embrace AI-generated songs, provided the content authentically aligns with the genre’s expectations—even if the authorship is undisclosed. This victory transcends mere streaming numbers.

It proves that algorithms are capable of simulating human emotionality with such precision that the market reacts to them as genuine artists. The music industry now faces the profound challenge of determining where the boundary lies between art and simulation—and whether, in this digital age, that distinction ultimately matters to the listener.