You may have heard unsettling stories of artists having their tracks yanked from Spotify, often caught up in practices they didn't fully understand or engage in willingly.
It's a silent threat that could derail your streaming career without warning. Don't let this happen to you.
Discover the crucial missteps to avoid and ensure your music keeps playing to the right tune.
1 - Paying for Streams
Using shady promotional services that guarantee streams by running bots or engaging in click farming is a major no-no. Spotify has serious technology to catch these tricks, and they're not afraid to use it.
Remember, artificial inflation is bad for everyone—it messes up royalties, chart positions, and the platform's integrity.
2 - Streaming Circles
The middle tips should go into a bit more detail, explain more. Keep them short and to-the-point. E.g., if you're writing a post about how to blog, you can write something like: "Decide how often you want to blog. Be realistic about it. Think you can blog twice a month? Commit to once a month and stick to it."
"Spotify takes streaming manipulation extremely seriously, and we’ve long had detection measures and resources in place to prevent, detect and mitigate such activity, which have yielded tangible results." – Spotify spokesperson
3 - Bot-Boosted Playlists
If your track lands on a bot-run playlist and your stream count skyrockets unexpectedly, it’s time to contact your distributor, not celebrate.
Whether intentional or not, involvement with bot activity can lead to bans. Always keep a watchful eye on where your traffic is coming from and maintain clear, honest communication with your digital distributor and Spotify.
4 - Copyright Infringement
This one's straightforward: if you don't own it or don't have the rights, don't upload it.
Using unauthorized samples, covers without licenses, or music that simply isn't yours can lead to serious legal trouble, not to mention a swift ban from Spotify.
5 - Misleading or False Metadata
From the artist name to the genre, every piece of information counts. Mislabeling your music, impersonating other artists, or providing incorrect metadata can confuse users and derail your credibility.
Keep things clear and accurate to ensure everyone knows who's who and what's what.
Connect with Real Fans and Verified Curators
In the music streaming world, remember that guarantees of playlist placement or specific stream counts from anyone are likely scams. The real, organic growth is the only way to genuinely advance your career.
Spotify’s rules aim to help, not hinder, by encouraging growth through playlists curated by real people and followed by fans who genuinely engage with your music—they'll attend your shows, buy your merch, and support your journey.
That's why we created the Spotify Playlist Directory, listing over 3,000 real playlist curators you can contact directly. These real people can become valuable connections, considering your music for their playlists if it fits.
If you need help getting started on Spotify or have any questions, we're here to help. We want to see you succeed and make real connections in the music industry.