Numerous allegations of fake streams have emerged in a new class action lawsuit that names global superstar Drake as a prominent example of an artist whose streaming metrics may have been artificially inflated on Spotify. The lawsuit, filed on November 2, 2025, by Long Beach rapper Eric Dwayne Collins, known professionally as RBX, targets Spotify’s various corporate entities for allegedly turning a blind eye to fraudulent streaming activity.
The complaint, which mentions Drake 32 times, specifically highlights suspicious patterns in the artist’s streaming data between 2022 and 2025. According to the filing, Drake’s “No Face” track received streams originating from Turkey but appeared geo-mapped to the United Kingdom through VPN technology. This example serves as part of broader allegations that substantial portions of Drake’s 120 billion Spotify streams—a milestone he reached in September 2025—may include artificial inflation through automated systems.
Suspicious streaming patterns point to possible bot manipulation behind Drake’s record-breaking 120 billion Spotify plays.
Importantly, the lawsuit does not accuse Drake or his record label of any wrongdoing. Rather, it points to Spotify’s alleged failure to detect and prevent streaming fraud, which plaintiffs claim disproportionately harms artists with legitimate listener bases. The complaint argues that bot accounts stream songs for hours from obscure or disguised geographic locations, artificially boosting metrics for certain artists while diminishing royalty payments to others.
Collins seeks class action status representing thousands of U.S. artists, songwriters, and rights holders dating back to 2018. The court filing alleges billions of fake streams occur monthly across the platform’s user base. The relief sought includes damages, restitution of improperly distributed profits, and court-mandated improvements to Spotify’s monitoring systems.
As of early November 2025, Spotify has not publicly responded to the allegations. The platform’s business model, which distributes royalties based on proportional streaming share, is central to the complaint’s criticism. The lawsuit suggests this model remains vulnerable to exploitation, potentially benefiting Spotify through inflated user numbers and advertising revenue while disadvantaging artists with authentic engagement. The company has previously stated they use best-in-class systems to combat streaming fraud and protect artist payouts.
The case highlights growing industry concern about streaming integrity in the digital music economy. Collins’ attorneys argue that proper registration with performing rights organizations would be ineffective in securing fair compensation if streaming platforms fail to accurately report legitimate plays. Independent artists are particularly vulnerable in this ecosystem, as they often rely on promotional tools available through platform artist profiles to build their audience and generate revenue.
