A store or streaming service spotted suspicious activity on your release: streams that don't seem to come from real listeners. It reported them to us, and we've passed that on to you. This doesn't automatically mean you did anything wrong. Bots, fake playlists and some promotion services can cause it without you knowing.
What this means
A notice like this can be worrying. Here's what it means and what you can do now.
Stores like Spotify check their streams all the time. They filter out plays that come from bots, scripts or other automated activity. When a store finds these on a release, it reports them to us. We don't detect the streams ourselves. We share what the store reports, so you can act on it. What artificial streaming is
Each store has its own rules. Spotify, for example, says it removes these streams from public counts and doesn't pay royalties on them. Spotify's guidance
When this applies
You'll get a notice from us when a store's report names one of your releases. It can happen even if you never paid for streams. For example:
A promotion or playlist service you used got plays through automated means, even if it said it didn't.
Your track was added, without your knowledge, to a playlist made to look busy.
Automated accounts played your track among many others, to look like real listeners.
Fans or friends played your track on repeat to help you.
Stores count all of these as artificial streams, whatever the cause.
What you need before you start
Our notice email. It includes the number of artificial streams, the stores where they happened, the affected tracks and the period.
A list of any promotion, playlist, marketing or ad services you used for this release, with dates and receipts.
Links to any playlists you don't recognise that added your track.
Access to Spotify for Artists, if you have it, to see where your streams come from.
Step-by-step
Stop all paid promotion for the release now, including playlist placements or "stream packages". This stops more suspicious streams being added.
Reply to our notice with the information we ask for, before the deadline in the email. Reply in the same thread so everything stays together.
Report suspicious playlists to Spotify. Use the playlist reporting tool in Spotify for Artists for any playlist you don't recognise.
Ask curators to remove your track from playlists you didn't agree to.
Check your other releases in Spotify for Artists for the same playlists or sudden spikes.
What happens next
What happens depends on what the store reported and on what you send us. Here's what's possible, said plainly:
Royalties. Streams flagged as artificial aren't paid by stores. We may also hold royalties linked to the affected tracks while we look into it. How royalties are paid
Stream counts and playlists. Stores may correct play counts and remove affected tracks from playlists.
Fees. Spotify charges distributors a per-track fee when it finds very high levels of artificial streams. We may pass this fee on to you. You'll find the details in our Artificial streaming article.
Removal. A store, or we, may take affected tracks down.
Strikes. Our Anti-Fraud Policy explains our strikes system and when we review an account.
Each store makes the final call, so we can't promise that streams, royalties or releases will come back. What we can do is pass on your side clearly.
Asking for a review
Think the report is wrong? Message us and we'll review your case with you. Reply to the notice with your proof: receipts, the services you used, and anything that shows where your listeners come from. The store makes the final decision.
Avoiding it next time
Skip any service that guarantees a number of streams, followers or playlist adds.
Don't pay per playlist placement.
Watch out for playlists with hundreds of unrelated tracks, very few saves, or lots of unknown artists.
Be wary of messages that promise guaranteed streams. See Keep your account secure: phishing and fake emails.
Pitch to editorial playlists instead. It's a safe way to reach new listeners. Pitch to editorial playlists
Troubleshooting
Problem | What to do |
I never bought streams | Reply to the notice and tell us, along with any promotion you did use. Reports can come from activity you didn't start, and your answer helps us respond to the store. |
A fan or friend played my track on repeat | Ask them to stop, and mention it in your reply. Many repeat plays from a few accounts can look automated. |
A fee showed up on my royalty statement | Contact us with the statement period and the release. We'll explain the charge. |
I missed the reply deadline | Reply as soon as you can with the information we asked for, and let us know in chat. |
I got a second notice | Reply straight away. Our Anti-Fraud Policy explains what a repeat report means. |
Need help?
We're here to help you through this. Reply directly to the notice email, so your case stays in one thread. For anything else, contact us through the chat in The Artist Platform, or see how to contact us. Send your release title, UPC and the date of the notice. We aim to get back to you within 1 business day.