Your Song Got Added to a Fake Spotify Playlist? Do This
Imagine this: you wake up tomorrow to see your streams suddenly skyrocket overnight - from a few dozen to hundreds or even thousands - and it feels good. I know it feels good.
But if you haven't been running ads, posting content, or pitching your song, you start feeling like it's a bit... suspicious 👀
Most artists experience this at some point - a random spike that seems too good to be true.
And often, it is.
Here's what's happening behind the scenes:
1. A playlist owner creates a playlist full of fake listeners
These fake listeners are bots - automated accounts designed to simulate streams.
2. They use tools to randomly add small artists for a short time
You might be on the playlist for a few hours or a few days, just long enough to notice a sudden jump in your stats.
3. The artist sees the spike and checks where it came from
You open your Spotify for Artists dashboard, see thousands of new streams, and find a random playlist name that looks "official."
4. You think it's legit - and that's the trap
Some artists will message the curator or even pay to stay on it longer, thinking it'll help their song blow up.
The truth?
These playlists are scams.
The goal is simple: trick artists into paying for fake streams.
Now, I want to put a strong emphasis on this:
Fake listeners = no real fans.
Those numbers might look impressive, but they don't help your music career.
They don't convert to followers, saves, or people who'll ever come to your show.
Worse - Spotify can detect these fake streams.
When that happens, they can:
- Remove your music from the platform
- Freeze your stats
- Or, in the worst cases, ban your account permanently
How to avoid it?
Unfortunately, you can't stop fake playlists from adding your music.
Spotify doesn't allow artists to block them, and they're not doing enough to prevent it either.
But here's what you can do:
Monitor your analytics regularly.
If you notice a sudden spike from countries where you don't have fans, it's probably fake.
Check the playlist.
If it has random genres, unrelated songs, or no engagement (few saves, followers, or playlist interactions) - it's likely a fake one.
Report it immediately.
Use Spotify for Artists support to flag suspicious activity. Provide the playlist name and link.
Never pay for placements (only for feedback).
Real fans come from genuine marketing, not bots. Stay away from anyone selling "guaranteed streams."
If you use Distrokid, contact them via Twitter
They answer there in seconds, and they are super helpful!
If your music gets added to a fake playlist, don't panic - it's more common than you think.
But do take it seriously. Protect your account, report the playlist, and focus your energy on building real fans who care about your music.
So please help spread awareness.
Share this with other artists, save it for later, and let's stop supporting fake playlists together. 🙏