Spotify Playlist Curator Abuse: Bad Actors & Complaints

Playlist Abuse Concerns Rise Among Spotify Curators

Numerous Spotify playlist curators are voicing concerns regarding the persistent issue of playlist abuse on the platform. This involves malicious actors submitting reports on successful playlists, aiming to elevate the visibility of their own curated content.

Currently, Spotify allows users to report playlists directly within the application, citing reasons such as inappropriate content – including sexually suggestive, violent, or hateful material. Upon submission of a report, the playlist’s metadata, encompassing its title, description, and associated imagery, is immediately removed.

Lack of Verification Process Fuels Abuse

A critical flaw exists in the system: there is no preliminary review process to validate the legitimacy of a report before metadata removal occurs. This absence of verification has been exploited by individuals seeking to gain an unfair advantage.

These individuals target competitor playlists with larger followings, submitting reports in an attempt to improve the ranking of their own playlists in search results. The problem is compounded by the unrestricted number of reports that can be filed by a single user.

Long-Standing Issue with Growing Evidence

This issue isn’t recent; curators have been reporting playlist abuse for years. A discussion thread on Spotify’s official community forum has expanded to over 30 pages and garnered more than 330 votes, demonstrating the widespread nature of the problem.

Affected curators have also taken to social media platforms to raise awareness, highlighting the platform’s inadequate system. One curator reported receiving over 2,000 reports on a single playlist within a year, with notifications arriving almost every minute.

This frequency suggests the use of automated bots to generate and submit these false reports.

Limited Support and Ineffective Solutions

Many curators report repeatedly contacting Spotify for assistance, only to receive minimal or no support. The only recourse available is to respond to automated takedown emails, though a response isn’t always guaranteed.

Spotify’s standard response indicates they are “working on a solution,” but provides no concrete details or timeline for resolution.

Circumventing Bans with New Accounts

While Spotify may suspend accounts found to be abusing the reporting system, malicious actors simply create new accounts to continue their disruptive behavior. A proposed solution from the community involves restricting reporting privileges to accounts with a minimum of 10 hours of streaming activity.

This measure could help differentiate genuine users from automated bots.

Curators Develop Workarounds

Some curators, managing extensive playlist libraries, have taken matters into their own hands. One developer created an iOS application to continuously monitor playlists for unauthorized metadata removal and automatically reinstate it. Another has implemented code utilizing the Spotify API to automatically restore metadata following false reports.

However, these solutions require technical expertise that isn’t universally available.

Spotify's Response Remains Vague

When questioned by TechCrunch, Spotify declined to disclose specific plans to address the issue. A spokesperson stated the company will continue to disable accounts suspected of abuse and is actively enhancing its reporting processes.

The company is currently testing various improvements, but details regarding these tests – including whether they are internal or external – remain confidential. No timeframe for implementation was provided.

Impact on Independent Artists and Labels

This abuse disproportionately affects independent artists and labels who rely on curated playlists for promotion and discovery. Their work is often immediately removed without any opportunity for review or appeal.

Curators express frustration with Spotify’s lack of responsiveness and believe the company’s ambiguous statements regarding a future solution only reinforce their concerns.

Ultimately, the ongoing playlist abuse issue highlights a critical need for Spotify to implement a more robust and transparent reporting system that protects legitimate curators and promotes fair competition.