Spotify has removed more than 500,000 streams from Malcolm Todd’s track Earrings following allegations of artificial streaming tied to bets on the prediction market Kalshi.
The removal came after the song unexpectedly reached number one on Spotify’s daily US chart this week. Prominent Kalshi trader Caleb Davies flagged the sudden rise as suspicious and suggested bots may have been used to inflate plays.
Spotify investigated the incident and confirmed evidence of artificial streaming. A spokesperson said the company has robust systems to detect manipulation and does not pay royalties on such streams.
The platform adjusted its charts accordingly, dropping Earrings from number one to number four. Kalshi trader Polymarket stated its users could not have profited because the song was not listed on its market. There is no indication that Todd or his team were involved.
