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Class Action Says Spotify Let Bot-Driven Streams Inflate Megastar Play Counts

Plaintiffs argue the platform's pro‑rata model diverts royalties from smaller rights holders, citing billions of suspect plays for Drake as an example.

Overview

  • The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court by rapper RBX, names Spotify as the sole defendant and does not accuse Drake of wrongdoing.
  • The complaint seeks to represent more than 100,000 rights holders and alleges substantial financial harm to artists, songwriters and producers.
  • Plaintiffs claim bot networks generated billions of artificial streams for top acts, with an analysis of activity from January 2022 to September 2025 noting abnormal VPN usage.
  • The filing contends inflated stream and user counts bolster Spotify’s advertising sales and perceived growth under shareholder pressure.
  • Spotify says it does not profit from artificial streaming and cites systems that remove fraudulent plays, withhold royalties and impose penalties.