Since I started producing music myself again in 2020 and am therefore represented on all major streaming platforms, my attention is repeatedly drawn to Spotify, the dominant streaming service, and its questionable practices. The ARD Mediathek (German public broadcaster) offers the mini-series " Dirty Little Secrets," which examines precisely these Spotify practices and is largely responsible for the " fake artist " shitstorm becoming known in Germany as well.

The music industry has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years, and streaming services like Spotify have fundamentally changed the way we consume music. Millions of users worldwide use Spotify daily to listen to their favorite artists and discover new music. But behind the scenes, there's a growing problem that threatens the integrity and authenticity of the music streaming experience: the emergence of fake artists in various playlists. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at this phenomenon and discuss its impact on the music industry and listeners.

The problem of fake artists

Fake artists are artists who release music that is often algorithmically generated and exhibits little to no artistic integrity. This music is frequently placed on playlists to artificially inflate streaming statistics and generate more revenue. This practice, known as "stream farming," distorts the true popularity of artists and influences which songs and artists appear in users' recommendations and playlists.

Impact on the music industry

The presence of fake artists in playlists has far-reaching consequences for the music industry. Established artists and emerging talents will be harder to discover in a saturated market, as their music competes with generated tracks. Authentic creativity and originality could be pushed out in favor of algorithmically created tracks, potentially impacting the diversity and quality of available music.

The role of Spotify

Spotify aims to be a platform for artists and listeners who appreciate genuine music. However, completely eliminating fake artists is difficult, as those behind these practices constantly find new ways to circumvent the systems. Nevertheless, Spotify has taken steps to combat this manipulation and protect the quality of the music presented on the platform. (Note: Even after being exposed, these fake artists are still present in various Spotify-generated playlists, so ultimately, nothing really changes...)

How listeners can protect themselves

As a listener, there are steps you can take to ensure the authenticity of the music you listen to. Look for verified artist profiles, read ratings and reviews of songs and albums, and research information about the artists to make sure you're supporting genuine creativity.

Conclusion

The problem of fake artists in various Spotify playlists is a serious issue that can jeopardize the authenticity and diversity of the music industry. While Spotify is taking steps to counteract this manipulation, it is also the responsibility of listeners to critically examine the music they support. By being aware of this and advocating for genuine artists and their creativity, we can help preserve the integrity of the music world.