Learn about payola on Spotify and why it's harmful to the music industry

What is payola? 

Payola refers to the practice of bribing someone in return for unofficial promotion. And for as long as music promotion has been about, payola has been lurking in the shadows close behind. 

Historically, payola related to radio stations. Artists would pay a radio station to get prime day airplay, looking to get in front of a built-in audience without much work. It also occurred during live music events, in music publications, pretty much everywhere. 

Today, payola significantly affects music streaming platforms, especially those that rely on user-created playlists. Some playlist curators, who have amassed impressive followings, are known to ask artists for a fee, collaboration, or engagement in exchange for adding their song to a playlist. This practice is highly unethical and compromises the integrity of the playlist. It distorts the dynamics between curators and artists and undermines the authenticity of the music selection process.

The primary motivation behind this unethical practice is financial gain, with no regard for the quality of music or the listener's experience. This process is strictly forbidden by digital service providers (DSPs) like Spotify. Both DSPs and Spotify have the authority to remove songs and playlists and ban artists from the platform if they are caught engaging in these suspicious practices. Engaging in payola is not only against platform policies but also illegal.

Why is payola harmful to the music industry?

Aside from the obvious threats to artists and curators, how do these practices affect the industry? 

⁠1) It messes with high-quality curation

⁠Talented curation is about discovering great music, finding a home for it, and sharing it within a defined editorial line. Curators play a pivotal role in the music industry by selecting tracks based on their artistic merit and potential to resonate with listeners. 

However, when money enters the equation, the integrity of this process is compromised. Curators might be tempted to sacrifice artistic integrity for a quick profit, accepting payments to feature songs regardless of their quality. This practice undermines the quality of the playlists, as financial incentives overshadow the curatorial judgment that should be based on the music's merit.

⁠2) It distorts genuine discovery

The music industry has evolved significantly since the 1960s, with an ever-increasing volume of songs being released at a rapid pace. This explosion of content means that it is impossible for anyone to listen to every new release. 

Curators have become gatekeepers in this crowded landscape, playing a crucial role in filtering and highlighting the best new music. However, the system becomes problematic when some curators start charging artists to listen to submissions. This practice effectively excludes those who cannot afford to pay, turning music discovery into a class issue.

3) It generates distrust in the ecosystem

When listeners realize that the music they are enjoying might be influenced by economic factors rather than creative merit, distrust in the music ecosystem inevitably increases. This erosion of trust can have far-reaching consequences. For one, listeners may begin to question the authenticity of playlists, wondering whether the songs they hear were selected based on their quality or simply because someone paid for their placement. This skepticism undermines the credibility of not just the individual playlists but also the streaming platforms as a whole.

How DailyPlaylists battles payola

Right now you may be thinking: I’m an artist who wants to get on more playlists but I’m not prepared to risk my integrity–and account–just to do that. 

Lucky for you, we’re here to help. 

We work with Spotify's API, so our platform is in compliance with Spotify’s Terms and Conditions. We do not support payola in any form and proactively take action against it. 

What we do instead: We came up with a credit system where users pay for submissions, not guaranteed placements. 

When using our platform, you will never pay to have a guaranteed placement on a playlist. Instead, you will pay to get credits which can be used to submit your tracks to a curator list, all of whom have been vetted to make sure they also don’t accept monetary bribes. 

Therefore, it’s totally up to the curator whether a song gets added to their playlist. They are fully within their right to turn any and all tracks down if they don’t fit the vibe. 

If you find a playlist or curator who seems suspicious, don't hesitate to report it to info@dailyplaylists.com , any curator who starts doing unlegitimate actions will be removed and banned permanently from DailyPlaylists.