Fake Spotify playlists are a common problem for both listeners and artists. Such playlists boost exposure. However, it fails to deliver real value. It is primarily done using bots or inactive accounts. This fake engagement is quite harmful for artists. Hence, it is important to protect your music and reputation.
Streamingmafia.com is here with a comprehensive guide on how to identify fake Spotify playlists!
How to Identify Fake Spotify Playlists: Explained
Fake Spotify playlists can harm musicians severely. These tools do not assist you in reaching out to genuine listeners. Falling for them just wastes precious time and resources. Here are some tips to help you identify fake Spotify playlists.
1. Unrealistic Follower Count
A fake playlist may have lots of followers with very little engagement. For instance, if it has thousands of followers and the songs in it hardly have any likes or plays, then that's a red flag. Real playlists take time to grow and build up a listenership where people actually save or like songs.
Always check whether the number of followers corresponds to the activity level. The characteristic that reveals a playlist had real followers: that it would provide steady engagement signals, such as save and shares.
2. Bot Streams
If your song gets many plays but no saves, likes, or playlist adds, that is most likely the use of bots. Bots inflate numbers without really helping you get any real fans. Real listeners do engage with your music-they save it, share it, or follow you.
Streams with no engagement do not build either your audience or career. Look for the patterns where streams appear high but overall interaction or followers are not growing; many times, this is a result of fake playlists.
3. Unrelated tracks
The most widespread feature of all fake playlists is that they contain random tracks that have nothing to do with the playlist's theme or genre. You can find pop, EDM, or classical songs in a playlist titled "Jazz Vibes."
Real playlists are very consistent with their theme and targeted for a specific audience. If you think this playlist looks chaotic or messy, that is a red sign pointing to it being possibly fake. Look for playlists that carefully curate tracks and provide a smooth listening experience for their followers.
4. Lack of any Social Media Footprint
Legitimate playlist curators showcase their playlists by creating content online through socials. They tend to post updates, engage their followers with some questions, and ask for recommendations of any songs, amongst other ways to drive traffic into their playlists.
If you cannot seem to find some social media about the playlist or the curator. With real curators, their levels of activity, more often than not, signal their authenticity.
5. Too-good-to-be-true Promises
Fake playlists promise instant success or thousands of streams if you pay them. Real playlists don't guarantee results since organic growth and real listeners are needed. If the deal sounds too easy or too good to be true, it probably is.
Genuine playlists focus on sharing quality music, not making promises they can't keep. Always be wary of any curator who would pressure you into paying for quick results without proof of their legitimacy.
6. Generic Playlist Names
Most of the fake playlists carry very generic names, like "Top Hits," "Best Songs," or something of that sort. Such names haven't told anything about what particular genre, mood, or audience the playlist has targeted. Real playlists are creative and focused on names concerning the idea of a playlist.
An example could be "Chill Acoustic Sundays," which already gives a good idea about what can be expected. Generic names can say something about the Spotify wrapper's laziness or lack of impressions involved, features that characterize most fake playlists.
7. Suspicious Curator Profiles
Take a closer look at the profile of the playlist curator. The fake ones usually have incomplete profiles with just a little or no personal information at all. Additionally, they may have very few followers or playlists.
A typical curator should possess a professional profile that contains information such as a name, bio, and contact information. They are likely to have several playlists with good engagement. If the curator's profile looks empty or untrustworthy, probably, the playlist is not real.
8. Weird Placement of Tracks
Some of those fake playlists bury your song down in the bottom where no one or a few get to hear it. They would still claim your track has been added, but near the bottom, it is not going to receive much attention in terms of plays.
Legit playlists want to help promote the songs, hence will place them in positions that listeners are more likely to be in. Always check where your song is positioned and if it's likely to be heard by real listeners.
9. Unusual Stream Locations
Most often, fake playlists bring streams from some random countries or regions that just don't make any sense for your audience. Suppose most of your listeners are in the US, but then all streams come from a small country; that is suspicious. Real streams usually come from areas where your fans are.
Always check your Spotify for Artists dashboard for unusual trends. The streams from unexpected places are many times a signal of fake activity or bots.
10. No Organic Growth
Organically created playlists grow at a snail's pace as they grow with real followers. If any playlist suddenly gathers thousands of followers in one night, it's suspicious, using bots. Real growth is linear: comes steadily out from sharing and people listening to your playlist.
In some cases, this is possible; you may observe some playlist history. Many times these artificial jumps turn out to indicate falseness. Hence, you're after playlists indicating explicit moments of gradual organic increase.
Learn more insights in our guide on Tips for Getting Your Music Featured on Spotify Playlists to boost your chances of playlist placements and grow your fanbase.
Conclusion
You must learn how to identify fake Spotify playlists to protect your music. Keep in mind that it takes time to build a real audience. Never opt for fake playlists. Always focus on honest promotion. This is important for long-term success. Follow the steps mentioned above carefully!
Stay smart! Stay careful! Best of luck!