As an independent artist, I have experienced firsthand the devastating impact of having my music wrongfully removed from Spotify due to allegations of "100% artificial streams". These accusations are not only false but also damaging to my career and livelihood. I have a significant online presence, and I can assure you that I have never engaged in services that use or sell fake streams.

Unfortunately, this issue extends beyond just me. Many other independent artists face similar challenges with their music being unjustly taken down by Spotify and DistroKid on the grounds of earning "fake streams". This practice is not only detrimental to individual artists but also undermines the integrity of the entire music industry.

Moreover, it's concerning that these platforms claim all royalties earned by these songs for themselves. This is a clear violation of artists' rights and further exacerbates their financial struggles.

According to a report from The Verge (2019), there has been an alarming increase in cases where independent artists' music is taken down without proper investigation into the legitimacy of such claims. Similar reports have been on the rise this year following some changes to Spotify’s policies on these matters. This trend needs to be reversed immediately.

We urge Spotify and DistroKid to review their policies regarding stream authenticity checks, ensure transparency in their processes, reinstate all wrongfully removed content, and compensate affected artists appropriately for lost royalties.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for independent musicians everywhere who are struggling against unfair practices within streaming platforms. Please sign this petition today!