Spotify Investigates Streaming Anomalies Linked to Kalshi Bets
WHO:
CBS News - Spotify, Malcolm Todd, Kalshi traders
Wired - One of Kalshi’s most prominent traders
WHAT:
Techmeme - Spotify removed over 500,000 streams of Malcolm Todd's "Earrings" after a 70% surge in streams within 24 hours propelled it to #1 on Spotify USA, coinciding with suspicious Kalshi wagers.
Bloomberg Markets - Spotify has asked Kalshi and Polymarket to remove its logo and clarify that neither company has a partnership with the streaming service.
CBS News - Spotify removed streams of the song "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd due to suspicious betting activity.
Wired - A Kalshi trader announced they would refrain from participating in Spotify-related markets until the issue is resolved.
WHERE:
CBS News - Spotify operates as a streaming service, Kalshi is a trading platform.
WHY:
CBS News - The streams tied to "Earrings" were determined not to be from genuine listeners following the emergence of suspicious betting activity on Kalshi.
HOW:
Bloomberg Markets - Spotify identified users manipulating rankings that are tied to prediction market bets.
CBS News - Spotify conducted an investigation into the streaming anomalies linked to Kalshi bets.
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 01:31 UTC)
Spotify has taken the unusual step of removing over 500,000 streams of Malcolm Todd's song "Earrings" after a dramatic surge of 70% in just 24 hours pushed it to the top spot on Spotify USA. This spike in streams coincided with some suspicious wagers on Kalshi, raising eyebrows in the music industry. The decision highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding streaming numbers and their potential manipulation.
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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 23:25 UTC)
Spotify has requested that Kalshi and Polymarket remove its logo and clarify that there is no partnership between the companies. This move comes after Spotify identified users who were manipulating rankings linked to prediction market bets. The streaming service is taking steps to protect its brand and ensure transparency in these markets.
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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 21:26 UTC)
Spotify has removed streams of the song "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd after discovering suspicious betting activity on the trading platform Kalshi, which led to concerns about the authenticity of those streams. In response to the situation, one of Kalshi's prominent traders announced they would refrain from participating in Spotify-related markets until the issue is resolved. Spotify's investigation into the streaming anomalies revealed that the streams tied to "Earrings" were not from genuine listeners.