Producer Arrested Using AI to Boost Streams
Michael Smith Accused Using AI to Inflate Streams on Major Platforms
Michael Smith, a producer under that name, was recently taken into custody for allegedly using AI bots to artificially boost the number of streams on popular platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. By doing so, Smith is believed to have manipulated the streaming figures of his own tracks and completely AI-generated songs.
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Details
Authorities claim Smith created thousands of fake accounts to inflate the number of plays for his songs, which allowed him to collect over $10 million in royalties. His scam took advantage of the payment models used by these streaming platforms, which base artist earnings on the number of streams.
Smith initially focused on boosting streams for his own music. However, once suspicion began to rise, he reportedly switched tactics, creating thousands of AI-generated tracks to avoid detection. According to the indictment, Smith wrote to his co-conspirators, “We need to get a TON of songs fast to make this work around the anti-fraud policies these platforms are using now.”
This case is yet another example of the legal challenges that AI brings to the music industry. While some artists, such as Ilan Bluestone, have used AI to enhance their tracks, the rise of AI-generated and artificially boosted “fake” music highlights the darker side of AI’s role in the industry.
Charges
Smith now faces serious charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. If convicted, he could face significant prison time.
Authorities believe Smith has been working with an AI music company since at least 2018, producing an excessive amount of music. He also used a complex web of fake email addresses, VPNs, and automated software to cover his tracks. The scam was finally uncovered when investigators noticed a suspiciously high volume of streams for certain tracks. Upon further investigation, they found many of these streams originated from fake accounts.
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