13/02/2026
Apple Music is tightening its grip on streaming fraud after detecting nearly 2 billion fake streams in 2025.
The platform confirmed those plays were demonetized, preventing an estimated $17 million from being misdirected away from legitimate artists. To further deter manipulation, Apple has increased financial penalties for accounts caught inflating streams.
Under the new policy, fines now range from 10% to 50% of royalties tied to fraudulent activity — doubling the previous maximum penalty. That means someone attempting to game $1 million in revenue could face up to $500,000 in penalties, in addition to losing the fake earnings.
As AI-generated music and bot streaming continue to rise, platforms including Spotify and Deezer are also cracking down.
The message is clear: fake streams won’t pay. 🛑
