Artificial streaming is any streaming activity that doesn’t occur through fans naturally discovering and listening to your music. Our music partners won’t pay you for streams gained through artificial streaming, and engaging in artificial streaming activities could result in your music being removed and even getting kicked off Soundrop. We don’t want that to happen, so make sure you’re familiar with the do’s and don’ts!
Using third party promotional services
Services that offer “guaranteed” streams or “guaranteed” playlist placements are not legitimate. Boosting your listeners and streams with services is considered a form of fraud. They also don't get you new fans or listeners: bots don't have friends.
Services offering guaranteed streams are usually relying on click farms to generate activity. Similarly, services offering playlist placement are either engaging in playola (paying for placement) or artificially inflating their own network of playlists followers with “listeners” who never actually listen to the playlist.
Our music partners can detect when you hire these services and will remove those streams from your reporting in order to only pay you for legitimate streams. They may also remove your music from their platforms, and we won't be able to appeal these decisions if that happens. We also may take action of our own to remove you from using Soundrop’s services in the future.
A note from Spotify regarding artificial streaming 👇
Any service that guarantees streams or playlist placement in return for money is lying to you about their legitimacy. We never associate with services like that and anyone who tries to artificially increase stream counts will risk having their music taken down. It’s important to know that you’re putting your career at risk anytime you engage with one of these bad actors.
Don’t Put Your Music At Risk.
As your trusted partner, we wanted to take a moment to warn you about some deceptive advertisements we’ve recently seen for illegitimate music promotion services.
Third parties that promise playlist placements or a specific number of streams in exchange for compensation are likely using illegitimate practices without your knowledge. These services can threaten your hard work, resulting in the potential withholding of streams or royalties, or even complete removal of your catalog from streaming services.
Our streaming partners work diligently to ensure streams are legitimate, meaning they reflect genuine user listening intent. If a service 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 service may permanently remove your entire catalog.
If you’re in the market for a music promotion service, make sure to do your research before you hire them.
artists.spotify.com/artificial-streaming
artists.spotify.com/help/article/third-party-services-that-guarantee-streams
artists.spotify.com/blog/what-is-artificial-streaming-the-latest-episode-of-the-game-plan-explains
Can I stream my own music on repeat?
This is also a form of fraud, even unintentionally! Playing your own music on repeat to boost your play count or streaming revenue is considered unethical, and our music partners won't allow it.
Of course, it’s fine to hear your own songs once in a while, but when you leave your newest album on a loop for two days straight, our music partners will take notice and could remove your music from their service. Again, we won’t be able to appeal that decision if it happens, so don’t do it!
Artificial Streaming Penalties
If you do engage in artificial streaming, you may be charged an "artificial streaming penalty." This fee is charged to Soundrop for distributing content that was fraudulently streamed. This fee is then passed on to you per section 11 of the Music Services Agreement.
Rest assured, this fee will never impact non-offending artists who have not engaged in fraudulent activity. Any legitimate streams/income will not be affected.