Why Am I Seeing "Spotify Fraud Fees" in My Sales Report?

Spotify has rolled out a zero-tolerance policy on artificial stream boosting. This means any activity that artificially inflates your streams—whether through third-party services, bots, or even simply playing your own tracks repeatedly—can lead to penalties. The aim is to preserve fair streaming practices and uphold the integrity of streams across the platform.

How does this policy affect me?

If Spotify detects that one or more of your tracks have benefited from artificial stream boosting, they will apply a penalty. These penalties are reflected as deductions in your sales report, labeled “Spotify (fraud fee)”.

Since penalties are applied retroactively, deductions will cover streams from past months. Moving forward, any detected activity will show up in your reports with a three-month delay.

Learn more about reading your sales report.

I didn’t intend to boost streams. Why am I being penalized?

We understand that many artists may not have intentionally violated the rules. Even actions that seem harmless—like repeatedly playing your own music—can now trigger penalties under Spotify’s stricter guidelines.

How can I tell if a service I’m using is involved in artificial streaming?

Be wary of any service that claims to guarantee streams, followers, or playlist placements for payment. Signs of artificial streaming can include unexpected spikes in streams from unfamiliar regions or quick drops in numbers after a surge.

Learn how iMusician can pitch your track to official playlists in a legitimate way.

How can I avoid penalties in the future?

To avoid these deductions, focus on growing your streams organically. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

- Avoid playing your own music on repeat for long periods.

- Avoid third-party services that promise to increase your streams.

- Stick to Spotify’s guidelines for promoting your music.

You can learn more from Spotify’s guidelines in their article, All You Need to Know About Artificial Streaming.

What should I do if I believe my streams were flagged by mistake?

If you think your streams were wrongly flagged, please contact our Artist and Label Relations team with details about your tracks and streaming activity. We take these issues seriously and will investigate thoroughly to ensure that legitimate streaming practices are recognized. Your input is vital for maintaining fairness across the platform.

Will these penalties affect other streaming platforms?

At this time, these penalties only apply to Spotify. However, we recommend following similar guidelines for all streaming platforms, as many services are adopting stricter policies against artificial boosting.