An American rapper known as RBX has filed a lawsuit against Spotify, alleging that the streaming platform profits from fake streams, particularly those of artist Drake, at the expense of other musicians. The lawsuit claims that Spotify turns a blind eye to billions of fraudulent streams each month, benefiting from bot networks that artificially boost user numbers to increase ad revenue.
RBX’s legal action aims to hold Spotify accountable for its alleged negligence in detecting and addressing fake streams, which have reportedly deprived numerous artists of their rightful revenue shares. The lawsuit singles out Drake as a key example, pointing to irregular streaming patterns that suggest inauthentic activity, including individual accounts streaming Drake’s music exclusively for up to 23 hours a day.
While most artists experience a typical stream pattern with initial spikes upon release followed by gradual declines, Drake’s streaming data showed unusual and sustained upticks even months and years after releases, indicating potential manipulation. The lawsuit underscores the need for Spotify to implement more robust measures to combat streaming fraud and ensure fair compensation for all artists.
Source: Ars Technica