In the final months of 2025, the music industry is experiencing a silent but devastating crisis: thousands of independent artists are being falsely accused of “streaming artificiali”, see their songs removed from Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music and, above all, find themselves with blocked or unpaid royalties.
In other articles I have already explained what happens when Spotify or the distributor removes songs for artificial streaming and how I can help you intervene in a targeted manner. If this has already happened to you, I recommend you also read:
- Songs removed for artificial streaming: I can help you
- Falsely accused of artificial streaming: music removed from Spotify, what to do next
This new article goes further: it collects real testimonies, explains why the crackdown has become so aggressive in 2025 and, above all, shows you how to defend yourself and how I can help you recover unpaid royalties.
2025: The toughest crackdown ever on alleged artificial streams
In recent weeks, dozens of reports have exploded:
- Songs removed without warning
- Accounts closed or limited
- Split royalties blocked (e.g. Splits feature on TuneCore)
- Features disabled without real explanation
- Profiles penalized despite many streams being algorithmic and legitimate
- Little to no transparency on DSP reports
The testimonies circulating among forums, artist groups and music development platforms have a common thread:
“I've never bought a stream. I've only promoted organically. Spotify flagged my track, and now DistroKid wants to remove it.”
“TuneCore blocked my splits, saying it was my fault, then they admitted it was a mistake.”
“CD Baby removed all my music for months, without even reading Apple's original report.”
“Two of our artists have been removed from all DSPs without warning. This is clearly abusive behavior.”
In practice, there is no transparent verification process. Many artists are paying for mistakes they never made.
The real problem: no one defends the artists (officially)
The pattern is always the same:
- Spotify and other DSPs say: “Parla con il tuo distributore”.
- The distributor responds: “Spotify reported it to us, and we can't do anything about it.”.
- The artist is left trapped in the middle, with no data, no evidence, no royalties.
Meanwhile:
- Your songs are removed or hidden
- Your royalties are blocked or withheld
- Your account is limited or “flagged” for suspicious activity
- Your digital reputation is at risk of being compromised
If you have already had songs removed or threatened to close your account, I suggest you also look into this: Falsely accused of artificial streaming: music removed from Spotify, what to do next .
Why I can really help you (and why people are looking for me in 2025)
In 2025, I've already recovered over €90,000 in blocked, unpaid, or unfairly withheld royalties from distributors and platforms on behalf of artists, producers, and publishers.
I'm one of the very few professionals in Europe specialized in:
- Control and analysis of artificial streaming reports
- Recovery of unpaid royalties (even after removals or blocks)
- Management of disputes with DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse, ONErpm, Ditto, etc.
- Streaming audits and professional anti-fraud analysis
- Reconstruction and republishing of removed catalogs
- Defense and protection of independent artists against DSP and aggregator errors
I have over 20 years of experience in music publishing and digital distribution, and operate through my companies with professional offices in:
- Miami
- Malaga
I work with a team specialized in:
- metadata & publishing
- digital distribution
- dispute & royalty management
- anti-fraud detection
- DSP compliance
When distributors don't respond, or respond with generic templates, I know exactly what to do, how to write, how to dispute and how to enforce the data.
Schedule a Meeting!Why are so many innocent artists reported?
Based on international testimonies and the cases I follow every day, the main reasons are:
“sospette” playlists (even if unpaid)
Many artists end up on playlists managed by bot farms or multiple accounts, often without having paid anything and without knowing who controls them. Detection algorithms can interpret these patterns as “artificiali”.
VPNs, shared Wi-Fi, external devices
A single device listening to your music on loop 24/7 can trigger an alert. The same goes for “sporche” networks, particular IPs or anomalous listening habits, which are not your fault but fall on your profile.
Distributors' internal algorithms
Often the report doesn't come directly from Spotify or Apple, but from the distributor's internal systems that interpret the reports. In other cases, the distributor doesn't even verify the file sent by the DSP, as some testimonies clearly demonstrate.
Gra Technical errors and lack of control
There are documented cases in which distributors have:
- removed entire catalogs for months
- blocked accounts and features (e.g. splits)
- admitted the error only after public pressure
- not refunded lost royalties
Algorithmic streams mistaken for artificial
Many artists have demonstrated that most of the streams were of algorithmic origin (radio Spotify, “Made for You”, Discover Weekly, Release Radar) and not from bots. Yet they were reported and penalized anyway.
In cases like these, “scrivere al supporto” isn't enough: you need a structured approach, with data, history, evidence, and technical language that DSPs and distributors take seriously.
What you risk if you don't act immediately
Ignoring the problem or hoping that “passi da solo” is the worst option. Here's what can happen if you don't react quickly and strategically:
- Permanently removing songs from Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
- Account blocking or closure with the distributor
- Royalties frozen for months or even unpaid
- Damage to your Spotify for Artists profile and editorial algorithms
- Inability to upload new music or use key features (splits, pitching, etc.)
- Long-term penalties on recommendation algorithms
- Loss of collaborations because splits no longer work
- Permanent internal flag that follows you on new releases
Once your account is “flagged”, it becomes very difficult to clear your account. This is why it is crucial to intervene before the situation gets worse.
What I can do for you (in concrete terms)
Here's how I can help you operationally, step by step:
- Complete analysis of your case (streams, times, playlists, geographies, anomalies)
- Verification of suspicious data reported by distributors or DSPs
- Checking for any errors by the distributor in managing the report
- Preparation of defense documentation (in Italian, English or Spanish)
- Formal contestation of incorrect reports
- Strategies for recovering unpaid or withheld royalties
- Catalog restoration plan where possible
- Protection of upcoming releases to minimize the risk of new reports
I have already resolved cases identical to yours for artists, producers, labels and publishers in:
- Italy
- Spain
- Latin America
- USA
- UK
If you have already had a song removed or have been falsely accused of artificial streams, I recommend you also read this complementary article:Songs removed for artificial streaming: I can help you .
Schedule a Meeting!Book a meeting with me now
If you suspect that your song has been falsely reported, or if a distributor has blocked your royalties, don't wait.
I can help you:
- Understand what really happened
- Evaluate whether the report is correct or false
- Set up a credible and documented defense
- Recover blocked or unpaid royalties
- Protect your account for future releases
In 2025, thanks to my intervention, over €90,000 in royalties that would otherwise have remained in the distributors' coffers have already been recovered. You could be next.
Book a meeting with me and tell me your situation. I will personally evaluate your case.
Schedule a Meeting!Don't let an algorithm or a third-party error destroy years of work. If you've been falsely accused of artificial streams, we can prove it and defend you with the right numbers, data, and procedures.
