the streaming numbers that are most often released by Spotify and Apple Music are balloon figures. the numbers do not at all represent the true and accurate streams for a particular artist, album or song. these stats are released to BRAINWASH the mainstream listener into believing that "everyone around them" is listening to music that they themselves "need to listen to too in order to not be left out". this is how marketing operates. if a consumer can be made to feel like EVERYONE ELSE is listening to something or using a certain product, or buying a certain brand, it can encourage that sole individual to jump on the bandwagon. so, by exaggerating streaming numbers to this degree, real people will actually long on to stream -- therefore creating REAL numbers that come close to reaching the false/marketing ploy stats.