As an indie artist who’s poured blood, sweat, tearsâand way too much of my meager savingsâinto this grind, I’ve had enough of watching talented creators get ripped off by sleazy “services” that promise the moon and deliver nothing but empty pockets and shattered dreams.
These parasites are everywhere, lurking in your DMs, flooding your inbox, and popping up in targeted ads designed to exploit your desperation.
They know we’re struggling.
They know we’re hustling day jobs just to fund our passion.
And they couldn’t care lessâthey’re here to suck us dry.
You know the ones I’m talking about.
Those “music promotion” companies that swear they’ll blast your track to thousands of real fans, get you on major playlists, or secure that elusive sync deal for a Netflix show.
Or the “managers” who demand upfront fees to “shop” your music to labels. The “playlist curators” charging hundreds for guaranteed streams.
The “booking agents” who want a deposit for that “exclusive showcase” with industry bigwigs in attendance.
They all have one thing in common: they take your money eagerly, deliver jack shit, and vanish when you ask for results.
I’ve seen friends lose hundredsâsometimes thousandsâon these scams.
One buddy paid for “guaranteed Spotify placement” and ended up with bot streams that got his account flagged and his numbers wiped.
Another shelled out for a “tour booking” service that booked nothing but excuses.
And don’t get me started on the fake A&Rs sliding into DMs, impersonating label execs, promising signatures if you just pay a “review fee” or “application cost.”
It’s predatory bullshit, preying on the hope that keeps us creating despite the odds.
These vultures thrive because the indie scene is full of dreamers who believe hard work plus a little “boost” will finally pay off.
But real success doesn’t come from shortcuts sold by faceless companies with generic websites and glowing fake testimonials.
It comes from grinding, building genuine fans, and networking without handing over cash to strangers.
And the worst part?
Almost every indie artist I know has encountered at least one of these during their career.
It’s not “if”âit’s “when.”
We’ve all been there, staring at that tempting email or ad, thinking, “Maybe this time it’ll work.”
Spoiler: It won’t. Not with them.
But There’s Real Community Out There â Shoutout to New Artist Spotlight (NAS)
That said, not everything in the indie world is a scam.
There are genuine grassroots efforts where artists actually help each other without demanding a dime upfront.
One that I’ve come across and fully support is New Artist Spotlight (NAS).
It’s a completely free international community of hundreds of indie artists from around the world who collaborate to promote each other’s music â through mutual listens, social shares, feature interviews, podcasts, artist reviews, and even a monthly Top 20 chart voted on by members and played on radio stations.
No guarantees of fame, no paid placements, just real artists supporting real artists because we all know how tough this is.
If you’re looking for a legit way to connect and grow organically, check them out at newartistspotlight.org or their Spotify podcast.
Places like this restore my faith that we can lift each other up without getting fleeced.
How to Spot These Scams Before They Drain You Dry
Enough rantingâlet’s arm ourselves. Here’s how to sniff out the bullshit and protect your wallet (and your sanity):
1. Upfront Fees for “Opportunities”: If they want money before delivering anythingâespecially for reviews, submissions, playlist adds, or “guaranteed” exposureârun. Legit pros work on commission or results. No real manager charges monthly retainers without earning from your success. No real curator demands payment for plays.
2. Guaranteed Results: Promises of “10,000 streams,” “major playlist placement,” or “sync in a big show”? Bullshit. No one can guarantee that ethically or legally. If they claim insider access that sounds too good to be true, it is.
3. Unsolicited Contact: They reach out to YOU out of the blue, flattering your work without specifics? Fake A&Rs, “sync agents,” or “promoters” love this tactic. Real opportunities come from building relationships, not cold DMs.
4. No Proof of Past Success: Check their track record. Do they have verifiable clients who’ve actually blown up thanks to them? Or just vague “success stories” and stock photos? Google their name + “scam” or “review.” If forums are full of complaints, bail.
5. Pressure and Urgency: “This deal expires soon!” or “Spots are filling fast!” Classic manipulation to stop you from thinking twice.
6. Fake Metrics or Bots: Services offering cheap followers, views, or streams? They’ll tank your algorithm and risk bans. Real growth is slow and organic.
7. No Real Website or Team: Generic sites, no about page with real people, or hidden contacts? Red flag. Legit companies are transparent.
The bottom line: Slow down.
Research everything.
Talk to other artists in forums or communities.
If it feels off, it probably is. We’re in this togetherâdon’t let these leeches profit off our passion.
Protect yourself. Create anyway.
Support real communities like NAS.
And fuck the scammersâthey don’t deserve a dime of our art.
Stay strong, fellow indies. We’ve got this without them.