After several artists are suspected of manipulating their listening figures on streaming service Spotify, the copyright organization Stim is now responding. The organization's CEO Karsten Dyhrberg Nielsen says their agreement with the streaming service is clear.

- It's their responsibility. They will make sure to report correctly to us and they will ensure that no one manipulates the data we get that we then give to our rights holders, ”says Karsten Dyhrberg Nielsen, to the Culture News.

"The problem may in some cases cover five percent of the overall reporting"

Unreliable listening figures create problems for Stim, who is responsible for the authors of the music being paid based on the number of listeners. And the problem has turned out not only to Spotify, but also to other streaming services.

Stim has agreements with over 50 music services and has during the last six months started to make more detailed analyzes based on the data they have.

- Based on a couple of analyzes we have done, we see that in some cases the problem may comprise five percent of the overall reporting, says Karsten Dyhrberg Nielsen.

However, he adds that they cannot safely say that it is a five percent problem for the entire market and that it is individual, small services they have analyzed.

"A system where the entire industry collaborates is necessary"

Alfons Karabuda, chairman of the interest organization Skap, thinks there are shortcomings in the control of listening figures.

"The control system is not good enough," says Alfons Karabuda to the Culture News.

He also believes that streaming services must take responsibility and prioritize the issue of manipulated numbers.

- It's not just about Spotify. It's about prioritizing this or not. At present, you see that there are competitors to Spotify that prioritize it more.

He also believes that Spotify should take its responsibility as a major player in the industry and set a good example to show that they not only care about sales but also where revenue goes.

- So a safer system where the entire industry works together, I think that is necessary, says Alfons Karabuda.

The cultural news searches Spotify for a comment.