If you’re an artist trying to grow on Spotify, you’ve probably come across services promising thousands of streams for a small fee. But here’s the problem: most of these streams are fake. They don’t come from real listeners, and they can actually hurt your music career instead of helping it.
So, how can you tell if streams are real or fake? Let’s break it down.
Signs of Fake Spotify Streams
- Unrealistic Listener-to-Follower Ratio
If a song has 50,000 streams but the artist only has 100 followers, that’s a red flag. Organic growth means listeners follow artists they like. If no one’s following, those streams probably aren’t real. - Low Engagement
Real fans interact with your music. They save songs, add them to playlists, and share them. If a song has thousands of streams but barely any playlist adds or likes, something’s off. - Weird Geographic Data
If most of your streams are coming from a single country you have no connection to—like a U.S. artist getting 90% of streams from Russia or India—it’s likely a sign of fake plays. - Streams Disappearing Suddenly
Sometimes, Spotify detects fake streams and removes them. If you see a sudden drop in your numbers, that might mean Spotify cleaned up fake plays from your track. - Your Revenue Doesn’t Match Your Streams
Fake streams won’t generate real payouts. If you’re seeing thousands of plays but making barely any money from royalties, it’s likely because those streams are coming from bots.
How Fake Streams Can Hurt You
- Spotify Can Ban You – If Spotify detects artificial streaming, they can remove your music or even delete your account.
- Your Credibility Drops – Playlist curators, industry pros, and even fans can tell when numbers are fake. If they see inflated stats, they’ll take you less seriously.
- You Waste Money – Instead of paying for fake numbers, you could be investing in real promotion that actually helps you grow.
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