Story perspectives

Spotify Cuts 500K Fake Streams, Drops Malcolm Todd’s #1 Hit

7/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Spotify removed 500,000 artificial streams from American singer Malcolm Todd’s “Earrings,” causing the song to fall from No. 1 to No. 4 on the U.S. chart.
Kalshi trader Caleb Davies said bots boosted the track while Spotify said macro programs generated the flagged streams.
Bettors who backed a 3% probability earned 30-times their stake as the “Earrings” Kalshi market traded $3 million.
Kalshi is investigating while Polymarket says it offered no profit opportunity.

1 of 1

Story summary

Spotify removed 500,000 artificial streams from American singer Malcolm Todd’s “Earrings,” causing the song to fall from No. 1 to No. 4 on the U.S. chart.
Kalshi trader Caleb Davies said bots boosted the track while Spotify said macro programs generated the flagged streams.
Bettors who backed a 3% probability earned 30-times their stake as the “Earrings” Kalshi market traded $3 million.
Kalshi is investigating while Polymarket says it offered no profit opportunity.