IFPI Announces Launch of Streaming Integrity Initiative (SII), a New Industry Commitment to Combat Streaming Fraud and Protect Artists, Songwriters and Fans.

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, SonoSuite, Sony Music Group, Symphonic, The Orchard, Too Lost, Universal Music Group, Virgin Music Group, Warner Music Group, WIN and Zebralution.

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.

Recognizing 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.

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.”

Sarah McNabb, Merlin’s Director of Content Integrity, said: “Tackling illegitimate activity effectively requires every part of the industry to move together. These commitments reflect Merlin’s own position and align closely with what Merlin already requires of its members. It’s encouraging to see so many of our members already putting their names to this announcement, and we’re glad to stand alongside IFPI in this initiative as it continues to grow.”

Noemí Planas, CEO, WIN said: “Combatting streaming fraud is a shared priority across the independent sector globally. Fraud knows no borders, so neither can our response. The proposed practices to counter fraud align with those that many distributors in our network are already implementing, and we look forward to continuing to work together to protect the value of genuine music for artists and fans worldwide.”

Helen Smith, IMPALA Executive Chair, said: “IMPALA’s Digital Music Plan adopted earlier this year set out our recommendations for growing the market and identified industry collaboration on a new scale as a top priority.

With recommendations for DSPs and labels as well as distributors, working together on integrity, promoting human artistry and other key aspects across the whole chain is vital.”

Simon Wills, Managing Director, Absolute Label Service, said: “Combatting artificial streaming cannot be a reactive game of whack-a-mole, it demands intelligent, forward-looking technology paired with cross-industry collaboration.

By integrating deep, multi-signal fraud detection into our music OS, Anthology, Absolute is enabling rightsholders to identify potential irregularities early. We fully support IFPI’s Streaming Integrity Initiative and are proud to champion a cleaner, fairer digital ecosystem for all artists and rightsholders.”

Sebastián Mañana, CEO, SonoSuite, said: “Streaming fraud doesn’t just cost the industry money, it takes revenue away from the artists and songwriters who deserve to be paid for genuine plays by real fans.

As part of the independent music ecosystem, and as technology infrastructure supporting distributors and labels worldwide, SonoSuite firmly supports the Streaming Integrity Initiative. Tackling fraud is a shared responsibility across the entire value chain, and we’re committed to playing our part.”

 

About IFPI

IFPI is the voice of the recording industry worldwide, representing more than 8,000 record company members across the globe. We work to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.