Spotify has unveiled a new Spotify for Artists Masterclass, spotlighting the growing concern of artificial streaming in the music industry and equipping artists with tools to identify and avoid fraudulent services that can damage their careers.
Okay.ng reports that the video, launched Wednesday and available on YouTube, breaks down the deceptive world of fake streams, often generated by bots or click farms.
These streams not only inflate an artist’s stats but can also mislead fans, result in lost royalties, and in some cases, lead to penalties against artists and their teams.
Spotify’s Head of Artist & Industry Partnerships, International, Bryan Johnson, warned that scams are often disguised as marketing boosts. “To be crystal clear: You can’t buy your way onto a playlist. Any service charging you money to get on a Spotify playlist – including non-editorial ones – is a scam,” he said.
Andreea Gleeson, CEO of Tunecore, echoed the sentiment, noting that many artists fall victim unintentionally. “Maybe they hired a marketing firm that they thought was going to do PR and strategy, but instead hired a bot farm,” she said. “For the bigger artists, it even happens to them, and it could be a fan or a member of the team who was trying to be creative.”
The Masterclass video features key voices from across the industry including:
- Andreea Gleeson, CEO of Tunecore
- David Martin, CEO of Featured Artists Coalition
- Bryan Johnson, Spotify executive
Their insights underscore the urgent need for education and collaborative action across music platforms, labels, and artists themselves.
Spotify has ramped up enforcement with AI detection systems, manual reviews, and industry alliances like the Music Fights Fraud Alliance, a coalition of DSPs, distributors, and labels working together to detect and eliminate fraud.
“Labels and distributors will be charged per track when significant artificial streaming is detected on their content,” Johnson added. “This charge may then be passed on to the artists whose tracks are detected as artificially streamed.”
David Martin cautioned: “If anybody is guaranteeing they can get you on playlists or boost your fans, I would say avoid that. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Spotify reaffirmed that streams flagged as artificial do not count toward royalties, charts, or public play counts. The platform stressed its mission to protect real artists and their fans, urging creatives to stay informed and vigilant.
