Spotify's "ghost artists" phenomenon is gaining renewed attention with an upcoming book, "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist," set to release on January 7th. The 288-page work by Liz Pelly investigates the platform's systematic use of fake artists on its curated playlists.

The investigation reveals an internal program called "Perfect Fit Content" (PFC), where Spotify partners with production companies to create and distribute low-cost music through its playlists. This practice diverts royalties and promotional opportunities from legitimate artists, particularly affecting independent musicians.

Key findings from the investigation include:

• Over 650 artist profiles and 15 billion streams were allegedly created by a single Swedish artist, Johan Röhr
• At least a dozen companies are involved in providing PFC content, not just the previously known Firefly Entertainment and Epidemic Sound
• Internal Spotify records show dedicated teams working to place these tracks across platform playlists
• Former employees confirm the systematic nature of the program

Recent developments related to fake streaming include:

• A $10 million royalty heist indictment in the United States
• A trial in Denmark regarding alleged fake stream operations
• Swedish media investigations revealing gang involvement in stream manipulation

While Spotify maintains it doesn't promise playlist placement in licensing agreements, the UK's CMA found that certain licensing deals require playlist representation proportional to overall stream share.

The book explores the musicians behind PFC songs and raises concerns about AI potentially taking over these roles in the future, further threatening independent artists' ability to compete on the platform.

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