How to promote your music on Spotify in 2025 (without getting scammed)

You’ve just released your latest single and now comes the real challenge: how do you get people to actually hear it?

In 2025, Spotify remains the most powerful music streaming platform on the planet. Whether you’re an emerging artist or a DIY veteran, there’s no denying that getting traction on Spotify can launch your music career in a big way.

But here’s the catch: with its popularity comes a flood of shortcuts, “growth hacks,” and straight-up scams that target independent musicians every single day.

This guide is here to help you avoid the traps, spot the red flags, and understand what real Spotify promotion looks like in today’s landscape.

Here's what we're going to talk about:

• Why Spotify promotions scams are still so common
• The 4 most dangerous Spotify playlists scams
• What does real Spotify promotion look like

Why Spotify promotions scams are still so common

You’d think with all the resources available now, it would be easier for artists to find legit ways to grow. But the truth is, Spotify scams are everywhere and they’re thriving.

Why?

Because independent musicians face enormous pressure to grow fast.
Because landing spots on high-performing playlists feels like striking gold.
And because when you’re new or frustrated, you become a target.

Scammers know this. That’s why they promise the world: “10,000 streams in a day,” “viral exposure,” or “guaranteed playlist placement.”
But what you actually get is a broken algorithm, no new fans, and possibly even a flagged or suspended artist profile.

Let’s go over the most common types of Spotify scams you’ll run into in 2025 and how to steer clear of them.

Discover legit ways to promote you music online by reading our full guide on our blog!

The 4 most dangerous Spotify playlists scams

1. Fake streams from bot farms

What they offer:
“Get 50,000 plays in 24 hours, guaranteed!”

What’s really happening:
They’re using bots or stream farms to inflate your numbers. At first, your stats look great, your song is racking up plays. But when you check your insights, there are no saves, no followers, and no real engagement.

Warning signs:

• Big spikes from countries outside your target audience
• High play count but very low save or share rate
• Set amounts of streams being sold as packages

Why it’s harmful:
Spotify has gotten very smart at detecting artificial streams. When they flag your track, it can be blacklisted from algorithmic playlists or removed completely. Worse, your artist profile might take a permanent hit.

2. Pay-to-play playlist “curators”

What they claim:
“Pay $99 and we’ll place your track on a playlist with 100,000 followers!”

The truth:
Most of these playlists are filled with bots, inactive followers, or fake engagement. The curators charge you to insert your track into a list that looks successful, but nobody is actually listening.

Red flags:

• No clear music curation or genre focus
• Asking for money upfront with no data to back it up
• No real brand or track record behind the playlist

Why it’s dangerous:
Getting dropped into a fake playlist won’t help you. It could even hurt your track’s discoverability by distorting your listener data. And if Spotify suspects foul play, you’re risking your reputation as an artist.

3. Stream swapping & engagement pods

What they promise:
“You stream my song, I stream yours, we all win.”

What’s actually going on:
In reality, these are mutual streaming groups on Discord, Telegram, or Reddit where artists agree to play each other’s tracks nonstop to boost numbers. Sometimes, they even use automated tools to fake the streams.

How to spot them:

• Requests to leave your phone or computer streaming overnight
• Giant playlists with hundreds of artists across unrelated genres
• Bots involved in the streaming process

Why it’s a problem:
This directly violates Spotify’s terms of service. Even if it seems like it’s working, Spotify’s algorithm will catch on fast. Once it does, you could lose algorithm support or even have your tracks removed.

4. “All-in-one” PR and playlist packages

What they advertise:
“For just $200, you’ll get playlist placement + blog coverage!”

The reality:
These bundles are almost always generic, low-value services packaged to look premium. You’ll get added to the same recycled playlists and spammy blogs as everyone else, with no actual marketing strategy behind it.

What to watch for:

• No personalization or campaign planning
• Identical landing pages or packages for every artist
• Lack of real artist testimonials or data

Why it’s useless:
You're throwing money at a service that delivers no real growth. No new listeners, no streams that matter, and no foundation for future success.

What does real Spotify promotion look like

Not every promotional service is shady. There are agencies out there that care about building your audience the right way.

Here’s what you should look for in genuine Spotify promotion in 2025:

• Personalized pitching to real, curated playlists
• Transparent reporting on where your song is being shared
• Human-powered outreach (no bots, no automation)
• Data-based strategy focused on long-term audience growth

It’s not about racking up streams for bragging rights. It’s about reaching actual listeners, people who save your song, follow your profile, and look forward to your next release.

Safe and effective promotion with Matchfy

If you're tired of fake promises and want to see real results, you better find a new way to promote your music and Matchfy is the right one!

Matchfy is a platform that allows you to promote and distribute your music organically, giving you the opportunity to reach numerous playlists and grow your community. Matchfy targets real listeners who could become fans, pitching to many user-generated playlists to reach niche audiences that fit your music.

What our platform does:

• 100% organic promotion following Spotify rules
• Leverage Spotify's algorithm by focusing on user-curated playlists for niches
• Promotion services on social media (TikTok, Youtube, Instagram)
• Distribution services

The cost of taking the wrong shortcut

Let’s be honest: the wrong kind of promotion can do more harm than good.

When you fall for the wrong pitch, you’re not just losing money. You’re risking:

• Being blacklisted by Spotify’s recommendation algorithm
• Losing out on editorial playlist opportunities
• Damaging your credibility with fans, blogs, and industry insiders
• Wasting time and momentum you could have used to grow naturally

How to vet a Spotify promotion company

Before you spend a single dollar, ask these key questions:

• Can they explain how they pitch your music?
• Do they have verified reviews or success stories from other artists?
• Are their playlists genre-specific and active?
• Do they share listener insights and analytics after your campaign?

Final thoughts: grow smart, not fast

Releasing new music in 2025 is exciting but also incredibly competitive. Spotify gives independent artists an unprecedented opportunity to build a global audience, but that opportunity comes with risks. As we’ve explored in this guide, the landscape is full of empty promises and deceptive services. From fake streams to sketchy playlist curators, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of artificial growth. And while those inflated numbers might look good on paper, they don’t translate into real fans or real careers.

What truly matters is organic growth. You want real people discovering your music, saving your tracks, following your profile, and sharing your sound with others.

Matchfy is more than just a promotion tool. It’s a platform built to help artists like you grow ethically, effectively, and sustainably. By focusing on user-curated Spotify playlists, Matchfy helps your music reach real listeners who match your style and genre.