Artificial Streaming, also known as streaming fraud, is when an artist uses artificial means to increase their stream counts.
This is bad. Don't do it.
Our streaming partners are constantly working to identify and prevent streaming fraud on their platforms. Note that streaming services reserve the right to remove manipulated content from their platforms. Check out this statement directly from Spotify:
How does Spotify protect against artificial streaming?
- An artificial stream is a stream that doesn't reflect genuine user listening intent, including any instance of attempting to manipulate Spotify by using automated processes (bots or scripts).
We put significant engineering resources and research into detecting, mitigating, and removing artificial streaming activity on Spotify so that nothing stands in the way of our mission of giving artists the opportunity to live off their art, and so that rights holders are paid as fairly as possible for their work. The integrity of this is incredibly important to us because an illegitimate stream means there are honest, hard-working artists on the other side that are impacted.
If you're caught committing streaming fraud, your music will likely be removed from streaming services, and you won't get paid. You may also receive a warning from Boost Collective and/or your Boost Collective account will be closed.
Spotify says you should avoid any service that:
-Guarantees Streams
-Guarantees Playlist Placements
We recommend you only use legitimate sources of music promotion that does NOT guarantee Streams or Playlist Placements, like our in-house music promotion.
Boost Collective campaigns consist of pitching your music to playlists, and if there's no good match, you'll get your money back. If the pitches work, you'll get on playlists and get organic and real exposure.
We NEVER give out bot streams or guarantee results; as a distributor, it's our responsibility to fight against streams.
You can read about how we keep our promotion options clean and organic and how we fight fake streams here.