Scammers upload fake songs to real artists' Spotify profiles, risking royalties

Scammers have been uploading AI‑generated tracks onto the profiles of real musicians on Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music and Amazon Music, a report by 404 Media said on September 17 2026. The scheme relies on a loophole in digital music distribution services that lets anyone sign up as an artist, upload a song, and claim it as the artist’s own. The fake recordings then appear as new releases on the artist’s page, generating royalty payments that go straight to the scammer instead of the real creator.

The loophole works because platforms like DistroKid, which 404 Media used in its test, do not verify the identity of the person uploading a track. Scammers use generative‑AI tools such as Suno or Udio to produce low‑quality “slop” songs and pair them with AI‑generated album covers. They then register as the artist on the distribution service, submit the track, and the platform accepts it without additional checks. The result is a new song that shows up on every major streaming service, complete with the artist’s name, logo and fan base.

In a test case, 404 Media uploaded a track to the Brooklyn band Lathe of Heaven’s profile. The band’s vocalist said the experience was “insanely disheartening” because the fake music tarnished their reputation. Spotify confirmed that profiles that are not actively managed are especially vulnerable. Odette Child, a group that has been tracking the problem since July, has identified more than 300 AI‑generated songs posing as works by major acts, dead jazz musicians and other celebrities. The scammer’s payout can be higher than typical AI slop because they benefit from the artist’s brand and fan trust.

The incident highlights a gap in the music‑distribution chain that could cost artists thousands in lost royalties and damage their public image. Industry insiders say stricter identity verification and automated monitoring of new uploads could curb the practice. Until platforms tighten their controls, smaller and deceased artists remain at greatest risk, while fans may unknowingly stream and support counterfeit music.