Spotify counts streams based on when a track is played for a certain duration of time. To be considered a valid stream, the track must meet the following criteria:
1. Minimum Duration: For a stream to count, a song must be played for at least 30 seconds. If a listener skips the track before the 30-second mark, it won’t be counted as a stream.
2. Replays: Each time a user listens to a song, it counts as a new stream, as long as the track is played for at least 30 seconds. Multiple plays by the same user are counted as individual streams.
3. Unique Streams vs. Total Streams: Spotify tracks both the total number of streams and the number of unique streams. Unique streams refer to how many different users listened to the track, while total streams refer to how many times the track was played overall.
4. Playlist Plays: Streams from playlists, whether user-generated or Spotify-curated, are counted the same way as streams from individual song selections.
5. Stream Validity: Spotify uses various algorithms to detect fraudulent streaming activity, such as bots or artificial manipulation of play counts. Streams from suspected bots or other invalid sources may not count toward the total.
In summary, a valid stream on Spotify is counted if a track is played for at least 30 seconds, and each time a user replays the track, it contributes to the total stream count.
