Nigerian singer Hotkeed has alleged that at least 50 Nigerian artistes are involved in the use of streaming farms to artificially inflate their music numbers on digital streaming platforms.
Hotkeed made the claim while speaking about what he described as a growing problem within Nigeria’s music industry. He expressed concern that the practice could distort streaming figures and make it difficult to determine the true level of popularity of artistes and their songs.
Streaming farms refer to organised systems in which large numbers of streams are generated artificially, sometimes through multiple accounts or devices, rather than through genuine listeners. The practice can be used to manipulate streaming statistics and potentially increase an artiste’s visibility, chart position or streaming revenue.
According to Hotkeed, he knows about 50 Nigerian artistes who allegedly engage in the practice. However, he did not publicly identify the artistes he was referring to, meaning his claims could not independently be verified.
The singer’s allegation comes amid continuing concerns within the global music industry over artificial streaming. Music streaming platforms have increasingly taken measures against fraudulent streams, while record labels and artistes have faced scrutiny over unusually high streaming numbers.
Hotkeed argued that artificial streaming creates an unfair environment for artistes who rely on genuine listeners to build their careers. He suggested that the practice could also undermine the credibility of streaming statistics used to measure success in the Nigerian music industry.
The allegation has generated discussion about the importance of transparency in music streaming, particularly as platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Audiomack play an increasingly important role in determining an artiste’s commercial success.
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