Streaming
The short answer
Platform changes, playlist policy, and payout news that moves independent artists first.
2026-08-18 · Source: DIY Musician (CD Baby)
CD Baby's Guide to Spotting Fake Playlists and Artificial Streaming
DIY Musician, CD Baby's artist education publication, published guidance on avoiding fake Spotify playlists and artificial streaming. The piece notes that getting onto Spotify playlists is one of the most common questions independent artists ask, that official editorial placements can change a record's trajectory overnight, and that bad actors exploit exactly that hope with paid schemes that put the artist's catalog at risk.
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