IFPI today announced the launch of the Streaming Integrity Initiative (SII), a new industry commitment to combat streaming fraud and protect artists, songwriters and fans from its harm. SII establishes a set of baseline practices for industry players to help prevent, detect and respond to streaming fraud.

Joining IFPI in support of the initiative is: Absolute Label Services, ADA, AWAL, CD Baby, CmdShft, Ditto Music,FUGA, GoDigital, HYBE, IDOL, IMPALA, InnerCat Music Group, Merlin, Redeye, Revelator, RouteNote, Secretly Distribution, Symphonic, Sony Music Group, The Orchard, Too Lost, Universal Music Group, Virgin Music Group and Warner Music Group.

Streaming fraud involves the manipulation of digital music services to generate revenue from plays that are not genuine. It is often happening at scale, undermining trust in streaming services and siphoning revenues away from the artists, songwriters, record labels, music publishers and others who power the music economy.

Recognising the vital role music distribution services play as a gateway to the digital music ecosystem and their unique ability to prevent fraudulent content from reaching streaming platforms, SII establishes a common baseline for industry action through five key commitments.

Participating distributors commit to:

• Verify rights ownership and customer identities through robust rights verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes;
• Vet content using effective tools and processes to identify infringement, fraudulent activity and AI-related risks;
• Act by detecting, investigating and mitigating suspected fraud, including acting against repeat offenders;
• Share intelligence, where legally permissible, to help prevent bad actors from moving across services and platforms; and
• Measure and continuously strengthen anti-fraud systems to address evolving threats.

These commitments are designed to strengthen prevention, improve detection, support enforcement action and increase collaboration across the industry.

The new initiative builds on the wider End Streaming Fraud campaign, launched by IFPI and leading music companies to raise awareness of the growing threat that streaming fraud poses across the music ecosystem.

As technology evolves and AI-powered tools become more widely available, robust fraud prevention and detection measures, and coordinated action across the music ecosystem, are more important than ever.

The organisations behind the initiative are calling on distributors, digital service providers, industry bodies and other stakeholders to support SII and help strengthen the industry’s collective response to streaming fraud.

More information about the campaign can be found at www.endstreamingfraud.com.

Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI, said: “Streaming fraud misleads fans and deprives legitimate artists and songwriters of income that should rightfully flow to them. This is theft, plain and simple.

“We welcome the leadership shown by the first distributors to publicly support the Streaming Integrity Initiative, and hope this leads to direct, effective and coordinated action to protect artists, songwriters and fans from streaming fraud.”

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