The marketing methods of the Baden-based record company Kajaani are infuriating Spotify users.
Badenstock is behind the special additions. AOP / Screenshot: Spotify
Yle reported in December 2021 how the washing machine band, completely unknown to the general public, is one of Finland’s most listened to Spotify artists.
In February 2022, the washing machine will have about two million listeners per month, according to Spotify.
The rise in the list of the now unknown Washing Machine has been explained: the record company behind the band, Badenstock in Kajaani, has used raucous marketing tools to streamline its operations.
The record company has found a solution with a recommended algorithm for getting over the neck. Badenstock is adding its own songs to the public shared playlists of regular Spotify users.
Songs added unnoticed will receive plays when the song is accidentally launched in the user list.
It is unclear whether the operation violates the terms of service
Helsingin Sanomat CEO of Badenstock Timo Surma-aho denies allegations that the company used bots in its operations.
Users who have added songs are often women, such as Tracy, Violet or Olivia.
– We don’t have any bots here. We just make songs. No, Surma-aho assures HS.
In an article by Hesar, Surma-aho admits that the company has used to add its own songs to the sharing lists to increase its visibility.
The same article reviews Spotify’s terms of use, which prohibit artificially increasing the number of plays.
HS however, it interprets that similar activity is not prohibited, as anyone can add music to another’s shared playlist.
As the number of plays increases, the performer of the song and the record company behind it deserve bigger earnings.
Markus Kaarto, Director of Licensing at the copyright organization Teosto, also comments on the matter in the HS article.
– This is quite a challenge for Teosto to comment on, as this is a complete analysis of Spotify’s terms of use, Kaarto comments to Helsingin Sanomat.
The Badenstock record company was registered in November 2021 and began its actual operations in early 2022.
Source: Helsingin sanomat newspaper, Yle