Artificial Streaming Policy and Guidelines

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL STREAMING?

Artificial streaming (also known as streaming fraud or streaming manipulation) involves artificially inflating the number of views, streams, follows, and sales to generate revenue or boost an artist's popularity on streaming platforms.

You can learn more about Artificial Streaming from Spotify here.

HOW DOES ARTIFICIAL STREAMING OCCUR?

Artificial streaming often occurs by employing third-party services or tools, such as bots or automated scripts, which violate platform terms and conditions. These services often promise guaranteed streams, playlist placements, or increased exposure in exchange for payment. However, using such services can lead to penalties, including the removal of music from streaming platforms like Spotify.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PROTECT AGAINST ARTIFICIAL STREAMING?

When artificial streaming is used to inflate streams on a release, it impacts the overall royalty pool that all artists participate in. Artificial streams dilute the value of each stream and ultimately take away value from artists who legitimately earned their streams. Overall, artificial streams result in all artists earning less money.

Artificial streaming can also impact your current and future releases by having your profile blocked from future opportunities on the streaming platforms and your music being taken down.

HOW DO STREAMING SERVICES, LIKE SPOTIFY, DETECT AND ADDRESS ARTIFICIAL STREAMING?

Streaming platforms, such as Spotify, have the following policies in place to protect against artificial streaming. They have resources that detect and report on various forms of artificial streaming.

Streaming fraud is considered a violation of Spotify’s Terms and Conditions and may result in fees or an artist’s release being taken down from the platform.

HOW CAN I AVOID ARTIFICIAL STREAMS ON MY RELEASES?

It is important to be careful when working with 3rd party services that guarantee streams for your releases, playlist placement for your releases, or more followers for your artist profile. It’s best practice to avoid these services that guarantee you success with your music. Please make sure you do your research before working with outside companies to promote your music.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY RELEASES ARE FOUND TO HAVE ARTIFICIAL STREAMS?

Since artificial streaming is a violation of the Terms and Conditions of Spotify, your releases may be taken down off the platform and charged a fee. Any fees Venice is charged by the streaming platforms will be passed along to the artist.