How The Music Industry Is Fighting Artificial Streaming

Artificial streaming all comes down to creating the illusion of success by generating fake plays, masking the true connection between music and its audience. It goes against everything being an artist stands for: creating music for the enjoyment of the craft, the love of the fans, and the magic that comes from your work being appreciated by and resonating with real people. That’s why the industry has banded together now more than ever to combat artificial streaming. Through DSP efforts, new tech, industry alliances, and more, here’s everything we’re doing to fight fraud at every level…

How The Music Industry Is Fighting Artificial Streaming

Industry Initiatives & DSP Responses

We’ve talked about this before on this blog, but artificial streaming isn’t just bad for the individual participating in it. It affects the entire music ecosystem as a whole. That’s why DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music have been cracking down more than ever with fraud detection systems that flag suspicious activity, like sudden spikes in streams from the same source or sketchy engagement patterns. If they catch something off, they can remove streams, issue penalties, or even ban accounts as needed.

Symphonic, along with CD Baby, Downtown, TuneCore, DistroKid, UnitedMasters, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more have come together to form an anti-fraud alliance called Music Fights Fraud, a global task force built to work on eradicating streaming fraud. This group represents the first time all corners of the music industry have aligned as a united front to combat fraud in music streaming. Plus, platforms are also tightening playlisting rules to stop pay-for-play scams and make sure real artists get the real recognition they deserve. 🤝

At the end of the day, the goal is to keep streaming fair and legitimate for everyone. By teaming up to fight fraud, the industry is making sure that success isn’t bought; it’s earned. Through our combined efforts, we hope the future of music represents true artistry rather than artificially made stats.

Legal Actions & Consequences

Artificial streaming isn’t just shady; it’s illegal. Over the years, there have been several cases where companies offering fake streams have gotten hit with lawsuits, with serious consequences for trying to manipulate numbers. The legal side of things is only getting more intense as the industry continues to crack down on fraud, too. In addition, labels, DSPs, and even artists are getting in on the action. In some cases, artists have even sued for lost royalties since fake streams can skew the numbers and mess with their earnings. Now, legal action is becoming more common, and streaming platforms are setting stricter rules to protect legitimate plays.

It’s important to remember that this issue is not just about the big companies getting hurt here. If you’re caught trying to game the system, you could face everything from account bans to hefty fines. With fraud detection systems becoming more sophisticated, it’s not a risk worth taking. In some cases, artists have had their music pulled from platforms altogether, and in more extreme situations, the legal fallout can damage your reputation (and your career).

The reality is that the consequences go beyond just money. By messing with these fraudulent practices, your entire future in this industry is at stake.

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Tech Solutions: AI & Blockchain 🧠🤖

Technology is stepping up big time to fight artificial streaming, and two of the most promising tools in the battle are AI and blockchain. AI is already helping DSPs catch fraudulent streams by analyzing patterns in listening behavior. It can flag things like massive numbers of streams from one user or rapid, repetitive plays that no human listener would realistically make. This kind of detection is getting more advanced, making it harder for fraudsters to slip through the cracks.

Then there’s blockchain, which is gaining traction as a way to make music data more transparent. By using blockchain, platforms can track every play in a way that’s almost impossible to mess with, providing a more accurate and honest view of streaming numbers. This could also help ensure that artists are paid fairly and that their data is secure from manipulation.

Together, AI and blockchain are creating a future where streaming data is more trustworthy and harder to manipulate, making it easier to spot fraud and protect real artist success.

Metadata

Metadata is the backbone of how music is tracked and reported across streaming platforms, and having solid, up-to-date data can help catch fraudulent activity. For example, if a track’s metadata shows a massive increase in streams from a country where the artist has little following, that’s a sign that something may be off. By having up-to-date metadata, DSPs can quickly identify these inconsistencies and take action.

Accurate metadata doesn’t just help catch fraud; it also ensures artists get paid what they’re owed. When your tracks are properly tagged, including all the right information for royalties and rights, it’s a lot harder for fraudsters to tamper with your earnings. To help keep you on track, here are a few tips to keep your metadata in check:

1. Check your track details: Always make sure your song title, artist name, and other important info is correct and consistent across platforms.
2. Use a reliable distributor: Distributors (like us!) help ensure your metadata is properly formatted and sent to the right places, helping prevent errors.
3. Double-check credits: Make sure everyone involved in the creation of your track (producers, songwriters, and collaborators) is credited correctly. This will help ensure royalties go to the right people.
4. Update your data regularly: If there are any changes or corrections needed (like new rights holders or updated release info), make sure you update your metadata ASAP.

Metadata is often overlooked, but it’s crucial to understand and keep it accurate to ensure your hard work gets the recognition and payment it deserves. To sharpen your metadata skills even further, check these out:

How To Submit Accurate Metadata

How Proper Metadata Improves Your Music’s Chance Of Success

How To Input Your Metadata in the SMS

To wrap things up…

Fighting artificial streaming is a collective effort, and everyone in the industry has a role to play. By staying up to date with what’s going on, you can help protect the integrity of this wonderful industry we call home and ensure that your hard work is properly recognized and rewarded. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the methods we use to fight fraud, making it more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve. Keep your metadata accurate, stay aware of the risks, and together, we can build a more transparent, fair future for music.

Good luck!