logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2019
23m 43s

Mystery Music ‘Forced’ onto Streamers

Bbc World Service
About this episode

At the start of October some users of a music-streaming platform found that their accounts were playing songs against their wishes. Artists like the Bergenulo Five and DJ Bruej were streamed thousands of times, with Spotify users claiming the music was forced onto them. Apart from the listings on the streaming platforms, the musicians had next to no digital footprint on the rest of the internet - no fan pages, no concert listings and no photos of the actual band members. So who was behind the streaming and why?

Reporter: Jonathan Griffin Producer: Ant Adeane

(Photo: A woman with an unhappy expression wearing headphones whilst placing her hands over her ears. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Jun 2024
Trending is moving to the Documentary Podcast
BBC Trending's podcast feed is closing, but we'll be publishing new episodes in the BBC World Service's Documentary Podcast from now on. Search for The Documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts, and subscribe to get new episodes of BBC Trending along with a range of exciting ... Show More
43s
Jun 2024
Colombia’s guerrilla recruitment video problem
Fighters from dissident armed groups in Colombia are using TikTok to glorify their lives as guerrillas and recruit youngsters.These armed groups didn't like the terms of a peace treaty negotiated between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government in 2016 ... Show More
18m 6s
Jun 2024
The Kenyan influencer championing climate denial
Jusper Machogu is a farmer from southwestern Kenya who describes himself as a “climate sceptic”: he wrongly claims that climate change is a “scam” or a “hoax” designed to hold Africa back. On social media, he has also become known as a staunch defender of fossil fuel exploration ... Show More
18m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2022
Is Spotify killing the music industry?
Not so long ago the music industry was threatened like it had never been before as online piracy tore into the profit margins of record labels the world over. Often hailed as the saviour, Spotify stepped in and offered audiences a new way of enjoying their favourite artists and w ... Show More
24m 14s
Feb 2022
Spotify’s Ongoing Joe Rogan Problem
The controversy over the star podcaster and misinformation raised thorny questions about the streaming service’s role as a platform, and exacerbated its conflicts with musicians. Guests: Ben Sisario and New York's Nick Quah. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Pod ... Show More
57m 23s
Oct 2023
Monday Mini: Spotify Stalking
The Internet is rife with ways to stalk people. One that many don't realize is called Spotify Stalking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
19m 15s
Mar 2025
Is the music industry ready for AI?
<p>More than 1,000 musicians have released a silent album in protest against new UK government proposals to change copyright law. Will the silence be too deafening for the government to ignore?</p><p>Writer: Jess Swinburne</p><p>Producer: Katie Gunning</p><p>Executive Producer: R ... Show More
8 m
Dec 2023
Spotify Is Screwed
Spotify is the world’s biggest music streamer, but rarely turns a profit and just cut 17 percent of its workforce. Its business model looks increasingly precarious. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here. Lear ... Show More
7m 54s