Looking to reach a wider audience on streaming platforms like Spotify? Who isn't? Unfortunately, many fraudsters and scammers have begun taking advantage of artists and music labels constant desire to reach a wider audience.
Beware: if you pay a 3rd party that's promising you playlist placement or specific stream numbers, you're very likely hiring a scammer or fraudster. These shady services often use techniques that violate terms of service on streaming platforms:
Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services do not allow playlisters to sell placement. If a playlist is caught doing this, they'll be removed from the platform.
Streaming platforms easily identify when bots or fake accounts are used to boost plays artificially.
Proton's streaming partners work hard to make sure streams are from real listeners. If a streaming service like Spotify finds that you (or a third party hired by you or on your behalf) have boosted play counts through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means (digital bots, “click farms”, payment for placement on playlists, etc.), the streaming service may permanently remove your entire catalog -- and you won't get paid for those plays.
If you’re in the market for a music promotion service, make sure to do your research before you hire them.
Spotify Artificial Streaming - Impact on Artist & Label Earnings
In April 2024, Spotify implemented changes to payouts to de-incentivize creators from working with bad actors that generate artificial streams:
Spotify deducts earnings for artificial streams in the payout to the distributor.
These deductions are related to specific tracks flagged for artificial streaming.
At Proton, these deductions appear only on the flagged tracks.
You have no deductions if your track was not flagged for artificial streaming.
To be clear, Spotify is not directly fining the artist or label. They are deducting earnings in payout to the artist or label's distributor.
For the avoidance of doubt, at Proton tracks flagged for artificial streaming by Spotify will see earnings deductions for those specific tracks. Tracks NOT flagged for artificial streaming will NOT have any artificial streaming fee deductions.
For more info, check the below guides:
Services to Avoid
The below list of services are known to violate Spotify's policy for artificial streaming. Avoid them at all costs, otherwise you risk having your music removed.