In a recent quirky revelation from a Swedish news outlet, some criminal groups have discovered a novel way to harmonize their ill-gotten gains using Spotify. Svenska Dagbladet tuned into this phenomenon, reporting that these “innovative” bad guys convert their shady cash into Bitcoin and then amplify their gains by purchasing fabricated streams for their real artist performances. The punchline? Spotify, perhaps unwittingly, ends up compensating for these manipulated play counts, funneling a fresh stream of sanitized cash to these gangs.
The Swedish reporters managed to strike a chord with members from four different criminal ensembles in Stockholm. They even got an anonymous tip-off from a cop, all humming the same tune: Spotify is being played like a fiddle. One insider noted, “This isn’t just a one-hit-wonder. We’ve got regular gigs with folks who orchestrate this for us.”
Given Spotify’s modest pay-per-play of around €0.003-€0.005 (with some fluctuations based on factors like where and how it’s played), one might wonder if this method really hits the high notes in terms of profitability. However, it seems it’s not just about the greenbacks. One source hinted that boosting their artists’ popularity on Spotify can also serve as a sort of marketing tool for their “other” ventures.
Responding to this offbeat news, Spotify remarked: “Stream manipulation isn’t a new track in the industry. We’re diligently working on fine-tuning our response. As for the claims made by Svenska Dagbladet? Our team hasn’t come across any solid evidence to back up this claim. Also, no word from the authorities. At least, not yet.”
Image courtesy by @gongenhum.bsky.social
