Spotify playlist bribery allegations surface in Turkey

Photo Credit: Engin Yapici

Spotify is facing serious turmoil in Turkey, including allegations of bribery around playlist placement and mounting regulatory pressure.

The controversy escalated after several Turkish artists raised complaints, questioning how playlists were created and alleging that unfair visibility was being granted to certain performers in exchange for bribes. Singers such as Aydilge, Ferhat Gocer, and Oguzhan Koch publicly asked Spotify to clarify the criteria used to create these playlists for transparency. In addition to these bribery claims, there are further allegations that artificial ‘bot’ uploads are distorting chart placements in the country.

In direct response, Spotify has launched an internal investigation targeting its editors in Turkey to determine whether their playlist curation was compromised by illicit payments or favoritism. The inquiry is looking at charges that independent artists face discrimination, royalties to Turkish artists are distributed unfairly, and that Spotify has potentially abused its market dominance by disrupting competition.

Turkish authorities have responded to the allegations, with the Turkish Competition Authority (RK) opening a formal investigation on July 4. That investigation will look into Spotify’s market practices, including allegations of playlist bribery, manipulation of royalties, and unfair advantages granted to certain artists or labels. The probe is broad and examines both anti-competitive behavior and broader content issues raised by these artists.

Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Batuhan Mumcu has criticized Spotify not just for its editorial choices, but for perceived resistance to removing user-generated playlists said to contain material “incompatible with the cultural and moral values of our nation.”

“Spotify persistently refuses to take the necessary steps despite all our previous warnings, the Minister stated. “Content that targets our religious and national values and insults the beliefs of our society has not been corrected. Spotify responded to the minister’s claims with an official statement, emphasizing the company’s commitment to following local laws.

“We are cooperating with the investigation, are actively seeking to understand it, and will work toward a swift, constructive resolution with the Turkish Competition Authority,” a Spotify spokesperson confirms. They note that “all our operations comply with legal requirements.” Company representatives have confirmed to multiple outlets that Spotify is actively weighing its options, including a suspension of service in Turkey or a possible withdrawal from the entire Turkish market.

Spotify has been a major player in the Turkish music ecosystem since its 2013 launch, claiming to have paid over TL2 billion ($49.7 million) to the local industry in 2024 alone. Turkish artists’ share of streams has grown significantly—rising to 65% of total streams in the country for 2025. The country now boasts one of the world’s fastest-growing recorded music markets, with nearly 90% of Top 50 charting songs in Turkey coming from domestic acts in 2024.

Should Spotify withdraw, Turkish artists and rights holders may lose global exposure and significant revenue streams, altering the digital music landscape in a country with a music industry that nearly doubled its revenue in 2024 to $87.8 million.