Simple:
The platforms can tell that you are artificially boosting your streams. They won't pay you for them, and you run the risk of having your music pulled down.
Services that offer “guaranteed” streams or “guaranteed” playlist placements are not legitimate. You should beware of the lure of boosting vanity metrics because artificially-generated streams are a form of fraud. They also don't get you new fans or listeners: bots don't have friends. The platforms may simply omit those streams from your accounting and pay only for those they deem legitimate, but they may also remove your music from their platforms. We will not be able to appeal these decisions on your behalf.
As Spotify says:
Any service that guarantees streams or playlist placement in return for money is lying to you about their legitimacy. We never associate with services like that and anyone who tries to artificially increase stream counts will risk having their music taken down. It’s important to know that you’re putting your career at risk anytime you engage with one of these bad actors.
Services that guarantee streams often rely on click farms or other unscrupulous practices to generate activity. Since streams are monetized, this is a form of fraud and may result in a “takedown” where digital streaming platforms remove your music.
Similarly, services that guarantee playlist placements are often either involved in playola (paying for placement) or artificially inflating their own network of playlists followers with “listeners” who actually never listen to the playlist.
See Spotify’s message about this issue below:
Don’t Put Your Music At Risk
As your trusted partner, we wanted to take a moment to warn you about some deceptive advertisements we’ve recently seen for illegitimate music promotion services.
Third parties that promise playlist placements or a specific number of streams in exchange for compensation are likely using illegitimate practices without your knowledge. These services can threaten your hard work, resulting in the potential withholding of streams or royalties, or even complete removal of your catalog from streaming services.
Our streaming partners work diligently to ensure streams are legitimate, meaning they reflect genuine user listening intent. If a service finds that you (or a third party hired by you or on your behalf) have boosted play counts through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means (digital bots, “click farms”, payment for placement on playlists, etc.), the service may permanently remove your entire catalog.
If you’re in the market for a music promotion service, make sure to do your research before you hire them.
https://artists.spotify.com/help/article/third-party-services-that-guarantee-streams
https://artists.spotify.com/blog/what-is-artificial-streaming-the-latest-episode-of-the-game-plan-explains
(Please note, this message was provided by Spotify in English. Translations in Spanish and Portuguese are provided by CD Baby.)
DO NOT stream your own music on repeat
This too, even when done unwittingly, is a form of fraud. It is unethical to stream your own music on repeat in an attempt to boost play counts or drive streaming revenue.
Of course, it’s fine to hear your own songs once in a while, but when you leave your newest album on a loop for two days straight the streaming platforms will take notice and could remove your music from their service. Don’t do it!
A note about penalty charges:
You may have heard that Spotify will charge distribution companies a penalty fee when artificial streaming activity is detected on their content. CD Baby is committed to ensuring that this penalty never impacts non-offending artists who have not engaged in this activity. Your legitimate income will never be affected by fees charged to CD Baby for artificial streaming.
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