My playlist was flagged as risky

When a playlist is flagged as risky on artist.tools, treat it as an early warning and act quickly. The right steps depend on whether the flag looks accurate.

What to do next

  1. Document the placement. Save a screenshot of the playlist page and the bot-risk score in artist.tools while the data is current.

  2. Review the playlist data. Look at growth patterns, listener demographics, and engagement ratios in the bot checker to understand why it was flagged.

  3. Pause related promotion. Stop any active campaigns or pitching tied to that playlist until you verify it is safe.

  4. Contact your distributor or label. If you see artificial stream patterns or sudden spikes, alert them early so they can prepare.

  5. Ask the curator to remove your track. If you have curator contact information, request removal to protect your catalog.

  6. Report to Spotify. If the playlist is delivering clear fake streams, report it through Spotify's support channels.

If you believe the flag is incorrect, you can appeal. See the appeal section below.

How to appeal an incorrect flag

If your playlist was incorrectly flagged as risky, we can review your case manually. Our team needs specific evidence to verify legitimate growth.

What evidence helps your case

Provide as much of the following as possible:

  • Spotify for Artists analytics: Screenshots showing organic follower growth patterns, listener demographics, and engagement metrics

  • Promotion proof: Links to social media posts, collaborations, influencer partnerships, or paid advertising campaigns that drove traffic

  • Curation activity: Evidence of consistent updates, community engagement, or playlist management over time

  • External traffic sources: Instagram followers, newsletter subscribers, website analytics, or other channels directing listeners to your playlist

  • Growth spike context: Specific dates and explanations for any unusual follower increases (e.g., viral post, feature, campaign launch)

The more documentation you provide, the faster we can resolve your case. Include specific dates tied to growth events.

How to submit your appeal

If you're reading this in our support chat or contacted us via email, reply with:

  1. The Spotify link to your playlist

  2. Your supporting evidence (screenshots, links, or descriptions)

Our team will review your case and respond with a determination. This typically takes 1–3 business days.

If you haven't contacted support yet, use the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the app or visit our Contact Support page to start your appeal.

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