Botted playlists are a big no for any musician looking to grow. This is all you need to know- 

So, you log into Spotify for Artists, just doing your usual check-in... and BAM. Your streams suddenly spiked overnight. At first, it feels like you’ve finally “made it,” right? But then you dig deeper—and the traffic’s coming from some sketchy playlist of songs you’ve never heard of. Weird name. No cover art. Generic vibes. No engagement. And definitely not your audience. Welcome to the shady world of botted streaming.

We’ll be taking a look at the following:

1. What’s a Botted Playlist?
   
   
2. Step-by-Step: How to Remove Your Song from a Botted Playlist
   
   
3. Pro Tips to Stay Safe From Botted Playlists
   
   
4. Final Thoughts
   
   

What’s a Botted Playlist?

Think of a botted playlist as a ghost town with fake party music blaring. On the surface, it looks like your track’s getting love, but behind the scenes, bots (aka fake listeners) are inflating your plays. No real fans. No discovery. Just numbers. In essence, it’s artificially generated plays that deliver nothing more than inflated data and future problems.

Sure, it might look good on paper—but Spotify doesn’t like it. In fact, botted streaming can get your track taken down, hurt your visibility, and mess with your future on the platform. 

Yikes. But don’t panic—we’ll walk you through what to do next.

Step-by-Step: How to Remove Your Song from a Botted Playlist

1. Identify the Playlist

Start by analyzing your stats. If you see an unusual surge from a strange region or a playlist of songs with no engagement or context, it's likely fake. Look out for generic playlist titles, odd listener locations, and zero profile interaction.

2. Contact the Playlist Owner

If contact info is available (often an email or Instagram handle), send them a simple message like:

“Hi, I noticed my song [Your Song Title] is on your playlist [Playlist Name]. I didn’t request this placement. Please remove it as soon as possible.”

This shows you're not complicit in botted streaming.

3. Report It to Spotify

Spotify offers a Playlist Reporting Tool via Spotify for Artists. Report the playlist and then contact support with:

• Your artist name and profile link
  
  
• Song title and track link
  
  
• The suspicious playlist name and link
  
  
• A note that you never authorized the placement
  
  
  

4. Inform Your Distributor

Send a quick email to your distributor (DistroKid, Tunecore, CD Baby, etc.). Let them know the situation and the steps you’ve taken. This builds a transparent record in case problems arise later.

Spotify appreciates transparency—and this step shows you’re taking initiative.

Pro Tips to Stay Safe From Botted Playlists

• Avoid any service offering guaranteed streams.
  
  
• Research any playlist of songs before submitting your track.
  
  
• Use vetted tools like SubmitHub, Groover, and Greaserelease.
  
  
• Keep a close eye on playlists on Spotify that feature your work.

If you’re ever unsure, tools like IsItAGoodPlaylist.com or artist.tools can help vet suspicious playlists before you engage.

Final Thoughts

Botted streaming may seem like a shortcut, but it’s a dangerous detour. Getting your music removed from a fake playlist protects your data, your reach, and your reputation. Be proactive, transparent, and intentional with where your music lands.

You worked hard on your track—don’t let a shady playlist of songs ruin that. Monitor your playlists on Spotify, report anything suspicious, and keep your growth real.

We at GreaseRelease, have a bunch of curators on our network who are looking for new & exciting music to push on their massive playlists. If you make music and want to reach a wider audience, check out our submission platform and get a chance to reach millions of listeners! Submit your tracks now!