Spotify Hosts Artist Masterclass to Tackle Stream Farming and Promote Authentic Growth

 

Firstsitenews-In a continued effort to curb the growing issue of artificial streaming in the music industry, Spotify recently hosted an Artist Masterclass aimed at educating musicians about the dangers of stream manipulation and the importance of organic fan engagement.

Artificial streaming which includes inflated play counts generated by bots, click farms, and other fraudulent means has become a major concern, undermining artist earnings and distorting industry data. To address this, Spotify brought together top industry experts to shed light on the issue.

Key speakers at the session included Andreea Gleeson (CEO of Tunecore), David Martin (CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition), and Bryan Johnson (Spotify’s Head of Artist & Industry Partnerships, International). Together, they broke down the complexities of stream farming and explained how deceptive practices not only hurt the credibility of artists but also mislead fans and result in lost royalties.

Many artists, often unknowingly, fall victim to shady services that offer "guaranteed streams" or playlist placements—offers that are frequently linked to fraudulent activity. These practices can trigger penalties and ultimately hinder an artist’s long-term growth and fan connection.

The masterclass emphasized the value of genuine fan engagement over the short-lived benefits of fake plays and inflated metrics. Speakers encouraged artists to focus on building authentic audiences rather than chasing misleading stats that could damage their careers.

Spotify also shared its ongoing measures to combat artificial streaming, which include advanced detection tools, manual forensic reviews, and collaborative initiatives such as the Music Fights Fraud Alliance. The platform has implemented strict monitoring that can lead to the deduction of streams from tracks found to have been artificially boosted.

By raising awareness and educating creators, Spotify aims to foster a healthier music ecosystem—one that ensures fair compensation and meaningful exposure for artists reaching real listeners.