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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11If a streaming service or distributor flags your music for artificial streams, respond through the channel named in the notice and contact your label or distributor promptly. Preserve the notice and dated records of your promotion and listening activity; Spotify says artists who believe their streams were genuine can share their legitimate promotion methods with their label or distributor for review. Appeal options vary by location, and an appeal is not a guarantee that a decision will be reversed.
First identify who acted and what action you are challenging
“Fraud accusation” can refer to several different events. A platform may adjust public stream counts, withhold royalties, or remove a track from a playlist. A distributor may issue a warning, charge a fee, take down music, or suspend an account. More than one party may act, and those actions need not share the same review process. Spotify describes possible platform consequences and notes that distributor policies can add separate penalties. Spotify’s artificial-streaming guidance explains these distinctions.
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Read the notice closely and record the sender, the action, the affected release, the date, and any response instructions or deadline. If the distributor sent it, begin with that distributor—even if the concern originated with a streaming platform. If both issued notices, preserve each and follow the stated process for each rather than assuming one appeal covers both.
How to make an appeal or request a review
- Follow the notice’s instructions. Use the contact method or appeal option in the enforcement notification, and retain a copy of what you submit. Spotify says available appeal options vary by location and directs users to the instructions in the notification when an appeal is available. See its reporting and appeal guidance.
- Contact your label or distributor promptly. Explain that you are requesting a review and ask what action was taken, which release and dates it concerns, what information it needs, and whether any separate distributor process applies. Spotify tells artists who believe their streams were authentic to provide their label or distributor with information about legitimate promotion so it can review the matter with Spotify. Its artist support guidance also advises reporting suspicious playlists.
- Send a concise, dated evidence packet. Include only records relevant to the track and period at issue. Spotify does not prescribe a standard appeal form; this packet is a practical way to explain your case, not a required format or promise of success.
- Ask for clarification if the notice is vague. Request the affected release identifiers, relevant dates, the action under review, and the correct channel for any appeal. Do not assume the sender will provide a particular evidentiary standard: the cited public guidance does not establish one for individual decisions.
What to include in the evidence packet
- The original notice, its date, and subsequent correspondence.
- The affected track and release details, including UPC or ISRC if available, the platform, and the relevant dates.
- A short timeline of legitimate promotion: what you or your team did, when, and through which vendors or channels.
- Supporting records such as campaign invoices, advertising records, vendor communications, and relevant reports.
- Analytics covering the period in question, with the source and date range identified.
- Links and dates for suspicious playlists or unexplained activity, plus a clear statement of whether you or your team authorized or knew about them.
Describe what you know—and separate it from what you suspect
State what promotion you commissioned, what the service promised, what it actually did, and when you noticed unusual activity. If you did not authorize or know about a playlist, say so plainly and include its link and the relevant dates. If a promotion vendor was involved, do not omit it; explain the relationship and provide the available records.
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An unexpected spike or suspicious playlist is worth documenting and reporting, but it does not by itself prove who caused the activity or establish that the streams were genuine. Spotify lists unusual patterns as possible artificial-streaming signals, but its public guidance does not set out a public evidentiary standard for deciding an individual case. Avoid asserting either that a spike proves innocence or that the platform has proven intent unless you have evidence for that specific claim. See Spotify’s explanation of artificial streaming.
Understand why dashboards, public counts, and royalties may differ
Spotify for Artists can show artificial-streaming activity even when associated royalties are withheld and public metrics are adjusted. Spotify also says some confirmed artificial streams may be removed before a dashboard refreshes. For Spotify royalty amounts, it identifies the royalty report from your label or distributor as the most accurate source. Therefore, a dashboard spike is not the same thing as payable royalties, and a change in public counts does not necessarily describe every underlying report. Spotify’s guidance on artificial streaming describes these differences.
Check the distributor’s own policy and your agreement
Distributor procedures and remedies differ. The following are examples from the companies’ published guidance, not rules that apply to every distributor. Check the current notice and the agreement for your own account.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Distributor | What its published guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Amuse | Artists who believe streams were legitimately earned should contact support for review. | Amuse guidance |
| CD Baby | Its guidance says flagged releases are notified by email, describes a penalty charge under its artist agreement, and says some cases can lead to takedowns. | CD Baby guidance |
| DistroKid | It warns that releases may be removed and accounts may be closed when most streams are found to be artificial. | DistroKid guidance |
Do not assume another distributor’s appeal route, fee, or remedy applies to yours. If a distributor imposes a substantial charge, withholds material royalties, or threatens your catalog or account, review the applicable agreement and consider advice from a qualified music-industry attorney. That is general guidance, not a guarantee that legal advice will change a platform decision.
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Do not confuse a streaming allegation with a copyright claim
An artificial-streaming allegation concerns listening activity or its promotion. A copyright or trademark complaint is a separate intellectual-property process. Spotify’s Intellectual Property Policy describes a separate process for those claims, with appeal instructions in the email correspondence when an appeal is available. Use that route only if the issue actually concerns copyright or trademark, not simply because a streaming accusation affected your release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Avoid attempts to counter the allegation with more artificial activity
Do not buy streams, guaranteed playlist placement, or followers, or encourage coordinated looping or automated playback. Spotify prohibits paid third-party services that promise streams or playlist placement and warns that inauthentic looping can lead to penalties. Apple says paid offers to increase Apple Music plays are not authorized by Apple. If you hire a marketer, investigate its methods and artist reviews rather than relying on promises of guaranteed numbers. See Spotify’s artificial-streaming guidance and Apple Music for Artists’ guidance on streaming manipulation.
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