The Music Industry Got Played- Literally
I just read this wild article about a guy who used AI and bots to fake his way into music streaming success, and I honestly can't stop thinking about it. He made up fake artist names, generated a bunch of songs using AI, and then used bots to stream them non-stop. The platforms—like Spotify and Apple Music—paid him real royalties because it looked like the songs were actually popular. It’s kind of genius… and also kind of terrifying.
Apparently, this guy, Michael Smith, used to run a medical clinic but decided he wanted to break into music.
At first, he dropped a jazz album that weirdly hit No. 1 before suddenly disappearing. Turns out, the whole thing was part of something much bigger. He created thousands of fake songs, got them onto playlists, and built this elaborate scam that was pulling in serious money. One of his partners ended up reporting him, which led to the FBI getting involved. He’s now facing federal charges—the first case like this in the U.S.
What’s so crazy is how easy it was.
The platforms had no idea because their systems just see streams, not whether they come from real people or bots. And since royalties are based on total plays, not who's actually listening, the guy found a huge loophole and just ran with it. It really makes you wonder how many other people are doing the same thing without getting caught.
It also brings up bigger questions about AI and music. Where do we even draw the line anymore?
If bots are making songs and other bots are “listening,” what even counts as success? It’s not just about this one guy—it’s about how broken and vulnerable the whole streaming model is. And if AI tools keep evolving, this might just be the beginning.
Overall, this story felt like a sign of what’s coming. The music industry needs to catch up, fast. Because if no one’s really listening—and bots are getting the paycheck—then we’re all just part of one giant, digital performance.
Check out more in the WIRED article here: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-bots-streaming-music/
