In an ongoing effort to ensure the integrity of content on their platforms, many DSPs are updating their review and education processes related to improper activity, including Artificial Streaming. The measures being implemented vary by DSP but are primarily aimed at disincentivizing artificial streaming and imposing penalties on the responsible parties. The intention is to meaningfully deter bad actors who attempt to divert money from honest, hard-working artists like you. In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know about Spotify's enforcement penalties and what it means for your content.
Enforcement Penalty Fee
Spotify is implementing a new policy where distributors like Symphonic will be charged an enforcement penalty per track when flagrant artificial streaming is detected on any content we distribute. We anticipate that other DSPs will follow Spotify's lead and implement similar protocols to combat and disincentivize improper activity on their platforms.
How are we going to handle these fees?
If it happens, we will review and allocate any penalties charged to Symphonic as fairly as possible to the party responsible for supplying that content to Symphonic.
How do I make sure this doesn't happen to me?
At the end of the day, our DSP partners want to be able to rely on the content we provide them and, in turn, provide non-fraudulent content to the music lovers who consume it. They also want to ensure that legitimate, hard-working creators like you are appropriately compensated for your work and that the bad actors who engage in improper activity are not rewarded for their unfair actions that hurt your legitimate efforts as an artist.
On the other hand, one of the most problematic sources of this kind of fraudulent activity comes from unsuspecting clients through illegitimate music promotion services. The issue runs deeper than just buying streams. Even if you decide to work with a service that claims to be legitimate, they might be using the same illegal methods you’re trying to avoid. — That’s why you should always be extremely wary of third parties that promise you playlist placements or a specific number of streams in exchange for compensation. These services are using illegal bot farms and other methods of artificial streaming that can result in the potential removal of streams, the loss of royalties, and even the complete removal of your catalog from streaming services.
🚨 Just remember: Paid third-party services that guarantee streams are NOT legitimate. You must be aware of scams like these and avoid them.
The bottom line is – don’t put your music at risk!
Our streaming partners, like Spotify, work diligently to ensure streams on their platforms are legitimate, meaning they reflect genuine user listening intent so that the proper content providers are credited and compensated for their hard work. If a service finds that you directly (or indirectly through 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 service has the right to remove the streams from play counts and royalties, and permanently remove your entire catalog, among other remedies available to DSPs and Symphonic.
If you are in the market for a music promotion service, make sure to do your research before you hire them. If you’re unsure what to look into first, check out these helpful resources:
Will Symphonic terminate my account?
As this is an evolving update, we’ll continue providing as many resources as possible to help educate our clients and ensure this doesn't happen to innocent parties. However, we will continue to review and track improper activity and take the appropriate measures to rectify such situations, including terminating your account with us. If you intentionally take part in fraudulent activity, we will take action. Terminating your account, included. Rest assured that Symphonic will not penalize you or terminate your account if you follow best practices and do not conduct yourself improperly. If you are not violating, you will not be affected.
To wrap things up…
Symphonic is one of the first members of the Music Fights Fraud Alliance. We are proud of our work to protect our clients and their content, and improper activity hurts all of us as an industry. If there is information you think would be helpful in the ongoing review and updating of these policies, please pass it on to us! We take your feedback very seriously and communicate regularly with our DSP partners, industry professionals, and even our competitors to see how we can better address this critical issue that impacts us all.
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