A significant milestone in the music industry has been achieved with Xania Monet's single, “How Was I Supposed to Know?”, marking the first known instance of an AI-based artist charting on a Billboard radio chart. The song debuted at No. 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay survey (dated Nov. 1), signaling a pivotal moment in the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, creators, and the music industry at large.

Xania Monet, whose first name is pronounced “zha-NI-ah” (rhyming with Shania Twain), is an AI-driven artist conceptualized by poet Telisha Jones. Her breakthrough onto the Billboard chart is a testament to the song's growing traction, fueled by plays at panel-contributing adult R&B radio stations across the United States. According to Luminate, the track saw a 28% increase in plays for the tracking week of Oct. 17-23 compared to the previous week, with 15 of the 57 total chart-contributing adult R&B radio stations playing the song during that window, as reported by Mediabase.

Before its radio airplay success, “How Was I Supposed to Know?” garnered widespread public attention through its viral spread on platforms like TikTok and other social media. This social media momentum translated into strong performance on streaming services and digital retailers, leading to a No. 1 debut on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart on Sept. 20 and a No. 20 entry on the multimetric Hot R&B Songs chart a week later.

The rise of Xania Monet and her song has sparked considerable discourse within the industry, eliciting both supportive and opposing viewpoints. Notably, prominent artists such as SZA and Kehlani have voiced opposition. Despite the controversy, Billboard's attempts to solicit comments from various stations' programming and music directors regarding the song, artist, and surrounding industry discussions did not yield replies.

Interestingly, for an innovation rooted in futuristic technology, the team managing Xania Monet views traditional radio promotion as a fundamental component of their strategy. Romel Murphy, Monet’s manager, articulated this approach, stating, “Her song is resonating with the masses. That was our simple formula.” He emphasized that radio promotion remains a crucial piece of the strategy, akin to that of a traditional artist, aiming to bring the music to the widest possible audience. Murphy confirmed that a full radio push is underway with the goal to “continue to grow, continue to connect and hopefully get to No. 1.”

Xania Monet is not an isolated case; other AI-driven acts are also making their presence felt on various Billboard charts, particularly the Emerging Artists chart. These concrete examples underscore the increasing likelihood that AI-driven artists will become a significant transformative force in the music industry. Nevertheless, Murphy urges listeners, including radio programming directors, music fans, and industry peers, to evaluate the music on its intrinsic merit. “Just listen to the songs. Listen to the lyrics. And then make your judgment,” he advises, advocating for a music-first perspective.