Apple Music cracks down hard on streaming fraud, doubling the penalties

Streaming fraud has long plagued the music industry. In a recent interview, Apple executive Oliver Schusser, who oversees Apple Music and Apple TV, said Apple has doubled its penalties for fraudulent streaming activity on Apple Music.

The most common tactic involves artists or labels using bot networks to loop tracks continuously in order to inflate streams and increase royalty payouts. Other methods include manipulating traffic to boost chart rankings or secure playlist placements.

Apple first introduced an anti-fraud penalty system in 2022 and has strengthened enforcement since then. Previously, fines started at 5% and were capped at 25%. As of this month, the penalty range begins at 10% and can go up to 50%. In practical terms, if someone earned $1 million through fraudulent streams, they could face up to $500,000 in penalties. Fraudulent streams are also demonetized.

Schusser described the effort as a “zero-sum game,” explaining that stronger penalties help redirect money away from cheaters and back to honest creators. He revealed that in 2025 alone, Apple Music removed billions of manipulated streams.

He acknowledged that the issue affects the entire industry, with platforms constantly battling manipulation driven by chart and playlist competition. Apple maintains that it aims to position itself as a high-quality platform and will not tolerate fraudulent behavior.