Artificial Streaming and Why It’s a Problem
Artificial streaming—sometimes called “streaming fraud” or “botting”—happens when streams are inflated through non-organic methods. This could be an artist knowingly paying for fake streams or unknowingly having their music included in such practices.
What Happens if Your Streams Aren’t Real
If the majority of plays on a release are flagged as artificial, streaming services may remove the music entirely. Any royalties tied to those fake streams will be withheld. On top of that, eMastered may issue a warning, and in some cases, permanently close the artist’s account.
In short:
Never pay for services that sell streams.
Never pay for services that sell followers.
Never pay for guaranteed playlist placements.
The Risks of Buying Streams
Fraud doesn’t always look obvious. Many companies brand themselves as “promotion services” or claim they’re running ads on your behalf. In reality, these outfits often rely on bots or automated systems to inflate numbers.
Sometimes artists aren’t trying to cheat the system, but they end up buying into shady marketing campaigns. This is why it’s crucial to vet promotional partners carefully. A company may look professional, but if it relies on artificial streaming tactics, it almost always backfires on the artist.
Watch Out for Fake Playlists
Even if you never paid to be added to one, playlists can also cause problems. Some playlist curators grow their lists through fraudulent means, which leads to “botted playlists.” If your music is placed on one of these, the artificial plays generated may cause your release to be taken down.
If you suspect a playlist is fake, you can:
Inspect the playlist directly.
Report suspicious playlists to Spotify through their reporting tool.
How Streaming Services Respond
Major streaming platforms dedicate significant resources to fighting artificial activity. For example, Spotify defines an artificial stream as any play that doesn’t come from genuine listener intent, including plays generated through bots or scripts.
Their engineering teams are continually developing methods to detect and remove fake streams. Their mission is to keep the system fair so that legitimate artists get the recognition—and royalties—they deserve. Artificial plays harm honest musicians, which is why platforms treat it as a serious violation.