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Spotify said an unauthorized third party scraped public metadata and used illicit tactics to circumvent DRM and access some audio files. Anna’s Archive, the group behind the reported collection, claimed it had metadata covering about 99.9% of Spotify’s roughly 256 million tracks—but audio files for about 86 million songs. Those are different figures: the 256 million figure describes claimed metadata coverage, not 256 million downloaded audio files.
What Anna’s Archive claimed to have collected
Anna’s Archive described its collection as a nearly 300-terabyte archive. The numbers, reported by TechCrunch, were the group’s claims rather than an independently audited inventory: metadata for an estimated 99.9% of Spotify’s roughly 256 million tracks, plus about 86 million audio files. The group wrote that the scrape was its “humble attempt to start such a ‘preservation archive’ for music.” That is the group’s stated framing, not independently verified evidence of its motive. TechCrunch
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Why 256 million tracks does not mean 256 million audio files
Metadata and audio are separate parts of the claim. Metadata is information about a track, such as its title or artist; an audio file contains the recorded music itself. Anna’s Archive claimed near-complete metadata coverage, but its claimed audio collection was much smaller.
| Reported figure | What it describes | Attribution and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| About 256 million tracks | Spotify catalog tracks for which Anna’s Archive claimed metadata coverage | Anna’s Archive’s estimate, reported by TechCrunch; the archive’s figures were not independently audited in the cited reporting. |
| About 99.9% | Estimated share of Spotify’s roughly 256 million tracks covered by the claimed metadata collection | Anna’s Archive’s estimate, reported by TechCrunch. |
| About 86 million audio files | Music files the archive claimed to have collected | Anna’s Archive’s claim, reported by TechCrunch and Ars Technica; not an independently audited count. |
| Nearly 300 TB | Claimed size of the archive | Anna’s Archive’s claim, reported by TechCrunch and Ars Technica; not an independently verified measurement. |
How much of the music did the audio files represent?
Catalog coverage and listening share answer different questions. Ars Technica reported Anna’s Archive’s claim that its audio files represented about 37% of Spotify’s songs as of July 2025, while accounting for more than 99% of listens. TechCrunch reported the group’s figure as about 99.6% of listens. These are the archive’s reported estimates, not independent measurements; the listening figure does not mean the archive had 99.6% of Spotify’s catalog. The archive said it prioritized popular music, which helps explain why its claimed share of listening could greatly exceed its claimed share of songs. Ars Technica TechCrunch
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What Spotify said about the access
On December 22, 2025, Spotify said its investigation had identified a third party scraping public metadata and using illicit tactics to circumvent DRM to access some of the platform’s audio files. The company said it was actively investigating. Ars Technica
In reporting published the following day, Spotify said it had identified and disabled the accounts involved and added safeguards. A Spotify spokesperson said: “We’ve implemented new safeguards for these types of anti-copyright attacks and are actively monitoring for suspicious behavior.” The spokesperson also said Spotify stood with artists against piracy and was working with industry partners to protect creators’ rights. TechCrunch
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What was released, and what remains unknown
As of TechCrunch’s December 23, 2025 report, Anna’s Archive had released metadata, but had not yet released the audio files. That describes the status reported at that time; the sources cited here do not establish whether audio files were released later, or whether subsequent takedowns occurred.
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A January 16, 2026 complaint in case 1:26-cv-00002-JSR alleges unauthorized scraping and planned distribution through BitTorrent. A complaint presents the plaintiffs’ allegations; it is not a court finding. The available reporting and complaint do not establish later court orders or the eventual outcome of the case. Complaint filed January 16, 2026
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