Understanding Streaming Fraud & Its Consequences

What is Streaming Fraud?
Streaming fraud, also called streaming manipulation or artificial streaming, involves artificially boosting song streams, followers, or playlist placements on digital streaming platforms (DSPs). Common tactics include bots, click farms, or illegitimate promotional services.

Spotify has prepared a helpful resource and has created the following video below.
Additionally, Apple Music has prepared this resource on the matter.

How Does Streaming Fraud Happen?

• Bot-driven streams: Automated programs repeatedly play a track to inflate numbers.
• Click farms: Paid individuals manually stream music to raise play counts.
• Playlist manipulation: Services charge money for fraudulent playlist placements to increase streams.

Why Does Streaming Fraud Matter?
Engaging in streaming fraud can lead to:

• Account penalties: DSPs or Symphonic may remove your tracks, suspend your account, or ban your content. In many cases, content cannot be re-distributed to DSPs. 
• Loss of earnings: Fraudulent streams are deducted from royalties.
• Damage to credibility: Industry stakeholders and fans may lose trust in your authenticity.
• Penalty fee: DSPs may charge a penalty fee to distributors that may be passed along to you.  

Ethical and Industry Implications
Streaming fraud distorts music charts, undermines fair competition, and misleads audiences. It hurts genuine artists by diverting resources and recognition to inauthentic successes.

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