Karra spent $100K on her debut album, producers, engineers, videos, legal work. She released it independently. It hit 1M+ streams.
Then Spotify deleted her entire catalog.
Why? Her music appeared on a bot-generated playlist she never approved. No warning. No appeal. Just gone.
This isn’t rare. It’s routine.
Behind the scenes:
- Imposters upload music under your name, even on verified profiles.
- Fake “collabs” steal your audience.
- AI clones your voice from YouTube and drops fake tracks.
- Royalty-free loops are used to hijack your royalties via automated claims.
- One accidental bot playlist = your catalog gets wiped.
And when it happens?
Distributors blame Spotify. Spotify blames your distributor. You’re left with nothing.
The truth: Streaming was never built for artists. It was built for volume, algorithms, and shareholder returns. You’re just the fuel.
“From a business perspective? It was like setting $100K on fire.”
Karra
So What Can You Actually Do?
- Trademark Your Artist Name
This is your strongest legal defense against impersonation and catalog theft. - Own Your Digital Home
Build a professional, SEO-optimized website, not just a Linktree. A real platform where you control your audience, data, brand, and revenue. - Avoid “Promo” Services That Use Bots
Many so-called growth agencies rely on artificial engagement. One flagged playlist can get your entire catalog deleted. - Diversify Beyond Streaming
Focus on channels that pay you fairly: YouTube (with monetization), direct sales, digital products, live experiences, or educational content. These aren’t side hustles, they’re your real business.
Streaming may distribute your music, but it won’t protect your career.
Don’t wait for your music to disappear to take ownership.
Your art deserves better than a system that profits from you, and discards you the moment something goes wrong.
Artistic sovereignty isn’t borrowed, it’s built.
It’s built by artists who choose to own their audience, their data, and their distribution, instead of renting access to it.