Trust & Safety
Artificial streaming
A stream only counts when a real person chooses to listen. Anything that fakes that, from bots to paid playlist guarantees, puts your music at risk.
How to Protect Your Music from Artificial Streaming Risks?
As your trusted partner, we want to alert you about deceptive music promotion services that promise playlist placements or a specific number of streams for payment. These services often use illegitimate practices like digital bots or “click farms,” which can put your music at risk. If a streaming platform like Spotify detects artificial streaming linked to your music, it could lead to the removal of your entire catalog.
To protect your music, always research promotion services thoroughly before hiring them. Legitimate services won’t guarantee streams or placements in exchange for payment. For more information, visit:
Artificial Streaming Education
Third-Party Services That Guarantee Streams
What Spotify does about it
- Streams that Spotify identifies as artificial do not earn royalties.
- Since April 1, 2024, Spotify charges labels and distributors per track when it detects flagrant artificial streaming on their content.
- Depending on severity, music can be removed and accounts suspended.
Source: Spotify’s artificial streaming guide.
How does DSTRO7 protect non-violating artists from Penalties related to Artificial Streaming activities?
DSTRO7 is committed to protecting our artists by ensuring that penalties related to artificial streaming activities will not affect those who were not involved in such activities. We will absorb any penalties and ensure our artists’ work remains uncompromised.
Before you hire a promotion service
- Do not hire anyone who guarantees a number of streams or a playlist placement in exchange for payment.
- Ask how they promote, and ask for artists you can call.
- If your numbers jump in a way you cannot explain, tell us right away and share what you hired and when. Early notice is the best protection.
Seen a suspicious playlist? Report it to Spotify, and write to info@dstro7.com.