TikTok videos speculating Dixie D'Amelio's use of bots to boost her Spotify streams are gaining traction. Computers impersonating people and formulating a false fan-based narrative is an issue currently kept away from media attention. Is there validity to these claims, or is D'Amelio's success only intimidating users of the popular app?

Fake Streams

An article by Venture explored the deep-seated issue of bots on music streaming platforms. Writer Dustin Boyer explained the use of bots and the unfair advantage of musicians with deep pockets.

He wrote,"'Bots' are software programs that were created to perform repetitive tasks on the internet. Individuals and companies have used these bots to create all sorts of new services targeted to the music industry." This manipulative tactic makes users of the app believe that millions of people like a particular artist's new song, convincing them to join in on the trend they have yet to join.

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One of the most "liked" videos addressing the issue showcased screenshots of D'Amelio's Spotify with upwards of 12 million monthly listeners. Those statistics were then compared to seasoned artists like Tyler, the Creator and Mac Miller. They've earned only a couple million more listeners each month than D'Amelio yet earned fans over a number of years.

Is There Proof?

Before anyone starts lashing out at the TikTok star, she's not the only one who might allegedly use bots to increase her exposure. Once a singer joins a label, those kinds of decisions might fly over their head if they're still new to the industry.

Others, however, know that they're cheating the system and do so despite the moral gray area accompanying the tactic. Indie artists who are taking the honest route get shunned in the process, cheapening the meaning behind the music.

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D'Amelio's Christmas single with Liam Payne had a little over 22 million streams on Spotify as of yesterday. It's surpassed 23 million streams in the last 24 hours, gaining some understandable speculation.

Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey has about 12 million streams on her 2020 hit "Oh Santa!" featuring Ariana Grande. Does it make sense that D'Amelio has 10 million more streams on her song than two artists with larger followings?

We can't say anything for certain without proof, and we're not trying to crush the hard work of a rising influencer like D'Amelio. However, the topic of bots and Spotify's tracking of them needs more attention.

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