Audiomack launches Sponsored Songs to fight streaming fraud

According to the platform, which boasts a presence across all African countries and over 30 million monthly users, the initiative is part of efforts to crack down on fraudulent streams and protect artists from scams that risk their removal from streaming services.

Sponsored Songs allows artists to pay to promote their songs using either external funds or earnings accumulated through the Audiomack Monetization Program (AMP), Audiomack’s treasury that allows creators to collect and cash out their royalties within the platform.

Through the programme, artists can target listeners by location and genre, while Audiomack’s recommendation algorithm places their songs in the queues of listeners most likely to enjoy them.

“As an official partner, Audiomack delivers music to human ears rather than bots  –  eliminating the risks artists face when they pay for third-party promotion,” a statement says.

Audiomack reports that artists who invested $50 in campaigns ending in July 2024 experienced a substantial 39% median increase in engagements, leading to notable gains in downloads, playlist additions, likes and re-ups.

“Paying for ‘black market’ streams can lead to the removal of your music and the loss of access to your artist profile. It’s just not a viable long-term strategy,” Audiomack’s executive vice-president of global operations, Brian Zisook, said. “What artists must understand is that you can buy a billion streams and make it look like you’ve made it, but what does that number mean if you can’t sell out a show or build a genuine fanbase?”

Audiomack says Sponsored Songs provides crucial analytics to help artists attract and retain genuine fans. By collecting insights on listeners’ location and demographics, artists can better understand their audience and refine their future music marketing strategies.

“Audiomack’s primary goal is to provide artists a global platform to grow and reach new ears,” says David Ponte, CMO of Audiomack. “By offering a safe and authorised promotion tool as an official partner, we aim to empower creators further to rise to the top.”

Artists can now try Sponsored Songs via Audiomack’s Creator App or the creator dashboard.

In related news, Audiomack is set to launch its Keep The Beat Going Global campaign on 29 July. This year, the campaign will spotlight 12 of the next generation of African superstars, handpicked from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa. It will feature billboards across the US and extensive editorial and social support across Audiomack’s formats and channels.