The music industry is once again taking a stand against streaming manipulation

On Tuesday (January 26), the Frankfurt Regional Court initiated urgent proceedings against the streaming manipulation websites www.likeservice24.de and www.likeservice24.com one, it says in one Pressemitteilung der International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

The providers named generate additional “plays, views, likes and subscribers for music on commercial online media platforms”, as the self-portrayal says. This approach should increase its reach and optionally generate better placements. They are now banned from doing this illegal service.

The Federal Association of the Music Industry (BVMI) and its international umbrella organization IFPI announce that the provider has been sentenced to cease and desist for misleading. Because it puts users of its offer in a better light and at the same time deceives future consumers.

First of all, it concerns the “sale of plays on streaming platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Soundcloud and Deezer.” In addition, the LG Frankfurt imposes the purchase ban on subscribers, reviews and likes. These are just as anti-competitive with the music industry.

Frances Moore, CEO of IFPI explains: “This is another positive decision in a number of German courts that supports the sound recording industry’s ongoing fight against streaming manipulation worldwide. IFPI and its partners in the industry continue to work to combat this harmful practice that not only robs artists, songwriters and other rightsholders of their rightful remuneration, but also misleads music fans. “

Dr. Florian Drücke, CEO of the BVMI, adds: “We don’t know what specific steps the streaming services themselves are taking to prevent such activities on their platforms, but we are definitely taking legal steps to ensure that the streaming market is working properly works. Because manipulation harms the artists and their partners, they endanger the accuracy of the royalty payments as well as the credibility of an important industry barometer, the charts. In the name of musicians and fans alike, we will not accept that. “

Previous streaming manipulations

Comparable offers were already banned in March and April of last year by the regional courts of Berlin, Darmstadt, Bremen, Hamburg and Cologne.

In 2019, an alliance of industry stakeholders was formed to combat this type of manipulation. This includes “majors as well as independent labels, publishers, online platforms and artist organizations”. These have the “Code of Best Practice” brought to life. As part of this, such procedures should be recognized and prevented. However, the aim is to reduce their impact on the market.

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