Stream Cuts Continue as Spotify Targets Fraudulent Plays

Since February 2025, Spotify has been removing streams from various artists’ tracks.

In a fresh wave of deductions in early April, several Nigerian stars have had streams taken off some of their songs.

Although Spotify hasn’t issued a statement regarding the stream deductions, the global streaming platform has a policy of eliminating streams identified as fraudulent.

As provided in the company’s policy, artists are not allowed to use third party services that offers streams in return for money.

“Paid 3rd-party services that guarantee streams aren’t legitimate.

3rd-party promotional services that advertise streams in return for payment violate our terms & conditions, and using them could result in your music being removed from Spotify.

Any service that claims to offer guaranteed placement on playlists on Spotify in exchange for money are in violation of our terms & conditions, and they shouldn’t be used.”

The policy further prescribes the correction of public sreaming numbers, removal from playlists, and some cases takedowns and withoding royalties as consequences for fraudulent.

“When we identify confirmed cases of artificial streaming or stream manipulation, we take actions that may include the withholding of associated royalties, the correction of public streaming numbers, and measures to ensure the artist or song’s popularity is accurately reflected in our charts.

Depending on the severity of the artificial streaming detected, the song may also be removed from Spotify playlists.”

Streaming manipulation remains a persistent challenge for music platforms worldwide, with Nigeria being a notable hotspot.

In 2024, global rap star Drake publicly accused Universal Music Group of artificially boosting Kendrick Lamar’s hit “Not Like Us” through the use of bot streams.

Digital streaming services continue to reaffirm their zero-tolerance stance on fraudulent streams, describing the practice as an unfair tactic that skews the playing field and deprives other artists of their rightful earnings.

Pulse/Oluchi