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Spotify's 'Ghost Artists' Scheme Sparks Outrage Among Musicians

5/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A revealing new book by Liz Pelly uncovers Spotify's controversial use of "ghost artists" to slash royalty payments to real musicians. The "Perfect Fit Content" program, designed to favor inexpensive tracks for playlists, has sparked ethical outrage among former employees, who worry about its detrimental effects on authentic artists striving for recognition.

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Story summary

A revealing new book by Liz Pelly uncovers Spotify's controversial use of "ghost artists" to slash royalty payments to real musicians. The "Perfect Fit Content" program, designed to favor inexpensive tracks for playlists, has sparked ethical outrage among former employees, who worry about its detrimental effects on authentic artists striving for recognition.