A 53-year-old Danish man is on trial in Aarhus, accused of making approximately 4.38 million kroner (£502,000) through fraudulent means on music streaming platforms between 2013 and 2019. The prosecution alleges that the streams of 689 music pieces on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouSee Musik were artificially generated.
The defendant faces charges of data fraud, including the unauthorized use of techniques to inflate stream numbers, and breaching copyright by appropriating works from other artists, altering them, and releasing them under his own name.
The trial is the first of its kind in Denmark, with proceedings expected to last three days, and a verdict anticipated the following Tuesday. The defendant has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors are seeking a fine, prison sentence, and the seizure of the defendant's royalties if convicted.
Members of Autor, a Danish association for composers and songwriters, describe the case as unprecedented and global in nature, emphasizing the need for a clear verdict to protect musicians' rights.
The Danish Rights Alliance flagged the case in 2018, highlighting the challenges posed by artificially generated plays that breach streaming service terms and may allow for unjust royalty collection.
The case underscores growing concerns about fraudulent practices in music streaming, potentially affecting the livelihoods of artists and the integrity of the music industry as a whole.
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