A question about Spotify playlisting

I'm asking because I genuinely don't know but I'm sure some will take my question negatively and assume I'm somehow coming for their faves, that's why I am putting it here.

The question being, when agencies put their artist's songs in playlists, is this an illegal practice or just a form of promotion?

If it's the former then why is it allowed to happen when it seems like everyone is aware of it? And if it's the latter why do people here act like it's such a negative thing? The way I see it, you can simply skip a song if you're not interested. Unless your only reason for streaming songs is to make your faves win against their competitors then I don't see why you'd have a problem with agencies promoting their artists' songs.

I only listen to playlists I make for myself. I guess people are mad that record companies are taking advantage of passive music listeners in order to gets streams. But you right, even passive listeners can/will skip a track they truly don't want to listen to.

it's a promo but at the same time it may seem unfair because companies use it to make their artist look bigger than they actually are (by having boost in streams). It's just the same as music videos on youtube ads imo.

No. Playlist is the way promotions work these days.

playlisting is how us labels pays spotify to have certain songs be included in some or more playlists like today's top hits. those who follow certain playlist are involuntarily exposed to this songs.

to apply it to real scenario:

a song in today's top hits but not even in global 200. makes you wonder if that song is really a hit or just paid to be added in that tth playlist

Quote from Seared Casserole of Venison (106)

playlisting is how us labels pays spotify to have certain songs be included in some or more playlists like today's top hits. those who follow certain playlist are involuntarily exposed to this songs.

You're involuntarily exposed to all kinds of products while watching tv, playing the radio or even driving down the street. It's called advertising. But you're not forced to buy those products. So as long as you can simply the song, I don't see what's the problem.