Music streaming fraud: The fake music stealing money from artists
Hits in the headlines #90
We have all heard stories of places that are not so friendly towards tourists, but it often doesn’t have much of an effect on the tourism in that location. As much as signs, graffiti, and protests can dissuade tourists from visiting somewhere, there are cases where much stronger measures are taken. Hyperion, the tallest tree in the world, famously has its location kept secret, as an extra barrier for would-be visitors. When buildings are damaged over time, they can be repaired even if that means closing down for some time. But in nature, this is much harder. In the UK stands one of the oldest trees in Europe. However, it is now under threat, due to over-tourism. What can be done about it? Will it cause irreparable damage? And, should we be more conscious tourists?
Read receipts. They have become the standard in our messaging services. Some people don’t even realise that they’re optional. However, you’ve likely been the sender or recipient of a message that has definitely been read, but not acknowledged. Read receipts were not designed to have users sitting and waiting for a reply after their message has been read. But, it’s not just about annoying your friends when you forget to reply to a message. The article shared here is about how our use of these read receipts impacts the way we communicate, and how they just might pose a security risk.
Have you heard of music streaming fraud? It might not be so clear what it actually is. Well, it is using bots to artificially increase the number of listens of songs on streaming services like Spotify. Artists are paid a small amount per number of listens, and there are constant complaints about the music streaming business model as many smaller artists struggle to make money. So, when a person decides to make AI generated music, then use bots to bump up the number of listens to their track, it is no wonder that this is a big problem in the industry. It is also, almost definitely breaking the law. In the video linked, you can hear the story of one person that did this multiple times, how they are now being punished, and the opinions of others in the industry.
Why not use this as a chance to learn some new language?
Try to note some new language that you see or hear in the articles or video and bring it to the class.
Remember, I always encourage you to send in your interesting articles, videos, or podcasts. You can message me directly, or email me here.
Have a great week.
See you in class!