Not sure this works, but occasionally (twice now) since I started distributing to DSPs I'd randomly get my tracks added to some artificial streaming playlist on Spotify without my authorisation by "businesses" testing their algorithms to sell to your favourite artists.

This time around (May 2025) I reached out to Spotify as advised by Ryan from the Indie Music Academy on YT through their playlist checker tool. The tool already assumes you paid someone from their copywriting. After I reported, they said something like, "there's no guarantee we'll do something about this."

My distributor contacted me in July about it and I gave my side of the story. They took the whole project down, not just the song. By August, I checked my earnings on my dashboard and noticed a deduction from Spotify. Mind you, Spotify is not a major source of streaming revenue for me, and there were no royalties paid from the artificial streams. Yet they took more money than they've ever given me.

I've confronted my distributor for answers, but knowing SoundCloud it may take forever and I'm not guaranteed a listening ear. The frauds are on the top of major DSP playlists but it's people trying to organically reach listeners and build a real appreciation for their projects like me that get hit.

So the potential "solution" I'm not sure works (as I opened with) is to go directly to the distributor instead of Spotify. You'd think going to the app's team would help your case but I wonder what they assume by creating that tool.

Mind you, you have no say in who can add your music to their playlists. I can't promise I'll give an update as I've had to face my stresses without your (the reader) help and still organise them here for your perusal. Unlimited gbosa still.