Spotify Removes 500K Streams Amid Manipulation Concerns
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 58 minutes ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Streaming Manipulation Incident: Spotify has removed over 500,000 streams of the indie-pop song 'Earrings' after suspicious betting activity caused its rise from No. 4 to No. 1 on the platform, highlighting potential risks of streaming manipulation.
- Betting Activity Raises Concerns: Traders on Kalshi flagged the suspicious betting, leading Spotify to confirm that the streams were generated by bots programmed to play songs repeatedly, aimed at manipulating streaming data and affecting song rankings.
- Kalshi's Response: Despite Spotify's removal of these streams, Kalshi has already paid out to bettors associated with 'Earrings', indicating the complexity of the streaming manipulation issue, with no evidence found linking Todd or his team to the activity.
- Spotify's Preventive Measures: Spotify stated it has 'best-in-class detection and mitigation practices for manipulated streams' and requested Kalshi and Polymarket to remove its logo, emphasizing its commitment to brand integrity and distancing itself from these platforms.
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Analyst Views on SPOT
Wall Street analysts forecast SPOT stock price to rise
21 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 472.480
Low
525.00
Averages
750.79
High
900.00
Current: 472.480
Low
525.00
Averages
750.79
High
900.00
About SPOT
Spotify Technology SA a Luxembourg-based company, which offers digital music-streaming services. The Company enables users to discover new releases, which includes the latest singles and albums; playlists, which includes ready-made playlists put together by music fans and experts, and over millions of songs so that users can play their favorites, discover new tracks and build a personalized collection. Its users can either select Spotify Free, which includes only shuffle play or Spotify Premium, which encompasses a range of features, such as shuffle play, advertisement free, unlimited skips, listen offline, play any track and audio. The Company operates through a number of subsidiaries, including Spotify LTD and is present in over 20 countries. Its service offers a music listening experience without commercial breaks.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Streaming Manipulation Incident: Spotify has removed over 500,000 streams of the indie-pop song 'Earrings' after suspicious betting activity caused its rise from No. 4 to No. 1 on the platform, highlighting potential risks of streaming manipulation.
- Betting Activity Raises Concerns: Traders on Kalshi flagged the suspicious betting, leading Spotify to confirm that the streams were generated by bots programmed to play songs repeatedly, aimed at manipulating streaming data and affecting song rankings.
- Kalshi's Response: Despite Spotify's removal of these streams, Kalshi has already paid out to bettors associated with 'Earrings', indicating the complexity of the streaming manipulation issue, with no evidence found linking Todd or his team to the activity.
- Spotify's Preventive Measures: Spotify stated it has 'best-in-class detection and mitigation practices for manipulated streams' and requested Kalshi and Polymarket to remove its logo, emphasizing its commitment to brand integrity and distancing itself from these platforms.
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