Streaming Fraud Policy
Streaming fraud harms legitimate artists, distorts charts, and can result in serious consequences. This guide explains what constitutes streaming fraud and LabelGrid’s policies.
What Is Streaming Fraud?
Streaming fraud is any attempt to artificially inflate play counts through illegitimate means. This includes:
Prohibited Activities
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Bot streams | Using automated software to generate fake plays |
| Click farms | Paying services to have people stream repeatedly |
| Stream manipulation | Services promising guaranteed plays |
| Playlist schemes | Paying for inclusion in fake/bot-driven playlists |
| Self-streaming | Running tracks on repeat 24/7 |
| Account farms | Creating multiple accounts to stream your own music |
Warning Signs of Fraudulent Services
Be cautious of services that:
- Guarantee a specific number of streams
- Offer streams at very low prices
- Promise chart placement
- Claim to use “real listeners” for a fee
- Advertise on social media with stream packages
Important: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Legitimate promotion doesn’t guarantee stream counts.
Consequences of Streaming Fraud
Platform Actions
Streaming platforms actively detect and penalize fraud:
| Consequence | Description |
|---|---|
| Stream removal | Fraudulent streams removed, royalties clawed back |
| Track removal | Affected tracks taken down |
| Artist blacklist | Artist banned from platform |
| Catalog removal | Entire catalog removed |
| Legal action | Potential lawsuits for damages |
LabelGrid Actions
When fraud is detected, LabelGrid may:
- Investigate the source of suspicious activity
- Suspend or terminate your account
- Withhold royalties pending investigation
- Report activity to streaming platforms
- Take legal action if warranted
Financial Impact
- Royalties from fraudulent streams are not paid
- Previously paid royalties may be reclaimed
- You may be liable for damages to platforms
How Fraud Is Detected
Platform Detection Methods
Streaming platforms use sophisticated systems to detect fraud:
- Behavioral analysis - Detecting non-human listening patterns
- Geographic anomalies - Streams from unlikely locations
- Account patterns - Multiple accounts with identical behavior
- Listening patterns - Tracks played on loop, skipped immediately
- Device fingerprinting - Identifying bot software
What Triggers Investigation
Red flags that may trigger investigation:
- Sudden spike in streams without clear cause
- Streams from countries without marketing presence
- Very short average listen times
- Streams concentrated on specific tracks
- Pattern of streams at regular intervals
Legitimate Promotion vs. Fraud
Legitimate Promotion (Allowed)
| Method | Why It’s OK |
|---|---|
| Social media ads | Real people choosing to listen |
| Playlist pitching | Editorial/curator consideration |
| PR campaigns | Press coverage driving listeners |
| Radio promotion | Traditional broadcasting |
| Influencer partnerships | Authentic content creation |
| Pre-save campaigns | Building genuine fan engagement |
Fraudulent Activity (Not Allowed)
| Method | Why It’s Not OK |
|---|---|
| Buying streams | Artificial inflation |
| Bot services | Not real listeners |
| Stream farms | Manipulated plays |
| Guaranteed placements | Likely fraudulent playlists |
| Looping your own tracks | Artificial self-streaming |
The Key Difference
Legitimate promotion drives real people to discover your music organically.
Fraud creates fake plays without actual listeners.
What to Do If You’ve Used a Fraudulent Service
If You’ve Already Used One
- Stop immediately - Cancel any ongoing services
- Document everything - Save receipts, communications
- Contact LabelGrid - Be transparent about what happened
- Don’t repeat - Commit to legitimate promotion only
Potential Outcomes
Depending on circumstances:
- Minor first offense may receive warning
- Significant fraud may result in account action
- Repeated offenses will result in termination
- You may need to repay ill-gotten royalties
Honesty Helps
Being upfront about past mistakes is better than trying to hide them. Platforms and distributors are more lenient with honest users who commit to change.
Protecting Yourself
Vet Promotion Services
Before using any promotion service:
- Research the company - Check reviews, reputation
- Be skeptical of guarantees - No one can guarantee streams
- Understand their methods - Ask exactly how they work
- Check pricing - Too cheap often means fraudulent
- Ask for references - Legitimate services have satisfied clients
Questions to Ask
- “How do you drive streams?”
- “Can you guarantee results?” (If yes, walk away)
- “What platforms do you work with officially?”
- “Can I see case studies?”
Safe Promotion Options
- Platform advertising (Spotify Ad Studio, etc.)
- Reputable PR agencies
- Social media advertising (Meta, TikTok, etc.)
- Playlist submission platforms (SubmitHub, etc.)
- Radio pluggers with track records
LabelGrid’s Approach
Our Responsibilities
LabelGrid is committed to:
- Delivering only legitimate music to platforms
- Monitoring for suspicious activity
- Investigating reports of fraud
- Taking action against violators
- Maintaining platform relationships
What We Monitor
We track unusual patterns including:
- Abnormal stream spikes
- Geographic anomalies
- Playlist additions from known bot playlists
- Reports from streaming platforms
Our Investigation Process
When investigating potential fraud:
- We review streaming data and patterns
- We may contact you for explanation
- We coordinate with streaming platforms
- We make decisions based on evidence
- We communicate outcomes clearly
Reporting Fraud
If You Suspect Fraud
If you see another artist engaging in fraud or a service promoting fraud:
- Document what you’ve observed
- Contact LabelGrid support
- We’ll investigate appropriately
Protecting Your Account
If you believe your account was compromised or used without permission:
- Contact us immediately
- Provide evidence of unauthorized access
- We’ll work to resolve the situation
FAQ
”Someone offered me 10,000 streams for $50. Is this legit?”
No. This is almost certainly a bot service. Real streams cannot be purchased this cheaply. Avoid these services.
”I added my song to a playlist and streams spiked. Is this fraud?”
Not necessarily. If the playlist has real followers and your streams come from legitimate listeners, this is normal. If the playlist is known to use bots, it’s a problem.
”My streams dropped suddenly. What happened?”
Platforms regularly audit and remove fraudulent streams. If you’ve used illegitimate services, those streams will be removed. Contact support if you believe the removal was in error.
”Can I stream my own music?”
Listening to your own music normally is fine. Looping your tracks 24/7 or using multiple devices to inflate streams is fraud.
Need Help?
If you have questions about streaming policies or need to report an issue, contact our support team.