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# Artificial streaming

Artificial streams are plays that don't come from real people choosing to listen, such as plays from bots, scripts, click farms or paid "stream" services. Stores filter them out, and AMM Distro shows you when stores have flagged any on your music.

## What counts as artificial streaming

* Buying streams, followers or playlist placements that promise a number of plays
* Using bots, scripts or many accounts to play your own music on repeat
* Paying for playlists that are filled with fake listeners

Even if you didn't buy the plays yourself, for example a promoter or a fan did, they can still be flagged on your music.

## Where you see it in AMM Distro

**Analytics → Engagement** has a **Stream health** panel when stores report this data. It says "Artificial-stream findings reported by the distributor" and shows:

* **artificial streams**: how many plays stores flagged
* **flagged assets**: how many of your tracks or releases were flagged
* **reported fines**: any fines reported for those plays
* the tracks with the most flagged plays

If nothing was flagged, it says "No artificial streams were reported in this window." The **Overview** tab also shows "Stream health clean" or the number of artificial streams flagged. Each release's **Analytics** tab has the same panel.

The **Streams** number in Analytics counts plays after the platforms' own fraud filtering.

## What happens when streams are flagged

Flags come from the stores and our distribution partners. When they report flagged plays, they show in **Stream health**, including any reported fines. If you see flagged streams, contact support so we can look at the release with you.

## How to protect your music

* Don't pay for guaranteed streams, followers or placements.
* Check any promoter or playlist service before you pay. Ask how they find listeners.
* Watch **Stream health** and your daily streams. A sudden spike from one country or one source with no clear reason is worth asking about.
* If you see flagged streams you can't explain, contact support with the release and dates.

## Common questions

### My streams jumped after a TikTok trend. Is that a problem?
Real listening that follows a trend is what you want. Check **Stream health** for the release. If nothing is flagged, there's nothing you need to do.

### Someone else bought streams for my song. What do I do?
Contact support and tell us what you know: who, when and which tracks. Stop working with that service.

**Related:** [Read your analytics](https://help.ammlabs.io/en/article/01-read-your-analytics-vlw602/) · [Playlist pitching](https://help.ammlabs.io/en/article/06-playlist-pitching-1mhyt0m/) · [Why is my account suspended, under review or frozen?](https://help.ammlabs.io/en/article/08-account-holds-and-reviews-p3v6qa/) · [Contact support](https://help.ammlabs.io/en/article/06-contact-support-fqfzhd/)