Simone Lawson
Spotify is a major platform that artists use to reach listeners. Streams are counted when a song is played for at least 30 seconds, and this rule is in place to ensure that only significant listening sessions from unique listeners are counted as one stream, excluding brief or accidental plays. Streams are counted per account, and Spotify counts streams from both free and premium users. Artists are credited with streams when they are listed as the main artist or remixer. Streams from downloaded music are counted when the listener goes online, and the listener must be online at least once every 30 days to ensure that offline plays count. Spotify has systems in place to detect and filter out fake streams generated by bots, click farms, or any artificial means.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum duration | 30 seconds |
| Muted playback | Counted, but may trigger fraud detection |
| VPN usage | Not counted |
| Offline playback | Counted when the listener goes online |
| Repeat playback | Counted, but may be seen as spam |
| Free vs. premium users | Both are counted |
| Streams by the artist | Not counted |
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What You'll Learn
Streams must be listened to for at least 30 seconds
Spotify considers a stream legitimate when a song has been played for at least 30 seconds. This rule ensures that only significant listening sessions from unique listeners are counted as one stream, excluding brief or accidental plays. Listening to a song for 30 seconds and then listening to it again for another 30 seconds counts as two streams. It is important to note that Spotify does count muted streams, however, doing so excessively might trigger Spotify's fraud detection systems.
Spotify has a system that detects and filters out fake streams generated by bots, click farms, or any artificial means. Streams that are flagged as fake are removed, and the associated artist page or accounts may face penalties. Artists are paid per stream, so it is crucial that only genuine and significant plays contribute to an artist's stream count.
It is worth noting that Spotify counts streams from both free and premium users. Additionally, streams from downloaded music are counted when the listener goes online, as long as they connect to the internet at least once every 30 days. This allows artists to earn royalties even from offline plays.
While Spotify does count repeated streams of the same song, doing so excessively may be flagged as suspicious activity and can affect the algorithm's recommendations. It is also important to note that Spotify does not count streams played through a VPN.
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Streams from free and premium users are counted
It is important to note that Spotify does not count streams on mute. While some sources suggest that Spotify counts streams played on mute, this is not true. Spotify's system does not have the capability to track volume levels on the hardware it is running on, so the mute setting will not affect the listening stats.
Spotify also counts streams from downloaded music when the listener goes online. The listener must connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to ensure that offline plays are counted. It is worth noting that Spotify has sophisticated systems in place to detect and filter out fake streams generated by bots, click farms, or any artificial means. Streams that are deemed fake are removed, and the associated artist pages or accounts may face penalties.
Additionally, Spotify does count streams on repeat. However, continuously repeating the same song may be seen as spam by the platform, affecting the algorithm's recommendations for that song to other users. It may also impact the personal music taste algorithm of the listener, potentially leading to less diverse music suggestions in the future.
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Streams on repeat count as multiple streams
Spotify does count streams on repeat. However, for a legitimate stream, a song must be listened to for at least 30 seconds. If a listener plays a song for 30 seconds or more, restarts it, and then listens to another 30 seconds, it will count as two streams. This means that if a song is streamed on repeat, each stream will count as long as it meets the 30-second minimum.
Spotify's terms and conditions explicitly prohibit artificially increasing play counts. The platform defines “artificial streaming” as when a human is not listening to a track, but multiple plays are generated, especially in exchange for payment. Spotify has sophisticated algorithms that can detect unusual listening behaviour and can compare data points to other users' listening behaviour to identify organic or artificial streams.
While it is technically possible for artists to earn royalties by streaming their own music on repeat, Spotify pays between 0.003 cents to 0.004 cents per stream, resulting in a minimal payout. Additionally, engaging in artificial streaming practices may lead to consequences such as stream removal, song removal, or restrictions on music distribution.
It is important to note that Spotify actively encourages repeated listens and incorporates them into its streaming algorithm through algorithmic playlists like "On-Repeat". These playlists are curated based on users' listening behaviour to promote repeated streams. However, Spotify also possesses the technology to detect and address artificial or inorganic behaviour that violates its terms of service.
As such, it is advisable to focus on legitimate strategies, such as social media promotion and playlist features, to increase streams and avoid any potential penalties or violations of Spotify's rules.
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Offline plays count if the listener reconnects within 30 days
Streams from downloaded music on Spotify are counted when the listener reconnects to the internet. Spotify requires the app to be connected to the internet at least once every 30 days to ensure that offline plays are counted.
Spotify keeps track of offline playback by storing the data within the app. Once the app reconnects to the internet, the saved data is sent to Spotify's servers, where the listening stats are taken into account. This means that even if a listener is offline, their plays will still be counted as streams and contribute to an artist's stream count and royalties.
It is important to note that Spotify has sophisticated systems in place to detect and filter out fake streams generated by bots, click farms, or any artificial means. Streams that are deemed to be fake can be removed, and the associated artist's page or accounts may face penalties. Therefore, while it is technically possible to stream your own music offline and have those plays counted, doing so excessively or in a suspicious manner may trigger Spotify's fraud detection systems and is not recommended.
Additionally, Spotify counts streams from both free and premium users, and there is no distinction between the two in terms of stream counting. This ensures that all genuine and significant plays are counted towards an artist's stream count, regardless of the listener's subscription status.
In summary, offline plays on Spotify will be counted as full streams if the listener reconnects to the internet within 30 days. This allows listeners to enjoy music offline while still contributing to the stream count and royalties for artists. However, it is important to be mindful of Spotify's fraud detection measures and stream organically to avoid any penalties.
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Using a VPN will not count towards streams
Spotify only counts legitimate streams towards an artist's total streams. While using a VPN is a common practice for many people, it won't count towards streams on Spotify. This is because Spotify can detect VPN usage through its algorithms and flag it as suspicious activity. Continuous 24/7 streaming from the same device or IP address, which is common when using a VPN, will likely be flagged as unnatural and won't be counted.
Spotify is constantly updating its systems to block VPNs, so there is a high chance that your VPN usage will be detected and blocked. Even if the stream appears to be playing on your device, Spotify's backend algorithms may discard it as a legitimate stream. This is done to prevent fraud streaming, which can occur unintentionally. For example, if you spam a stream or mute the track, it won't count as a legitimate stream, even if you didn't mean to perform a fraud streaming action.
To avoid being flagged, some people use proxy services instead of VPNs. Proxy services provide more security and anonymity than VPNs, and using a rotating proxy service can help keep your IP address from being blacklisted by Spotify. However, it's important to note that even with proxies, Spotify can detect suspicious patterns, such as multiple devices connected to the same network.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure your streams count towards an artist's total is to listen to the track legitimately. This means listening to the track for at least 30 seconds without muting it, and it doesn't matter if you're on a free or premium plan.
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Frequently asked questions
A song must be listened to for a minimum of 30 seconds for it to count as a full stream. Jumping or skipping to the 30-second mark does not count.
Yes, streams from both free and premium users count as a full stream.
Yes, streams from downloaded music are counted when the listener goes online. The listener must be online at least once every 30 days to ensure that offline plays count.
