Max Bering criticises bought reach and fake followers in the DJ scene

Max Bering, a DJ and producer from Bochum known for releases on labels such as Spinnin, Kontor and Sony, as well as performances at Parookaville and Cologne's Bootshaus, has published a detailed statement addressing fake reach in the electronic music scene. :::embed Statement auf Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DbDGrjGF31h/

::: Criticism of bookers and artificial engagement Bering targeted festivals and clubs that book acts relying on purchased followers. "This becomes a certain problem in the long term. Some acts simply sell something that they are not," Bering stated. He noted that managers often invest significant money into fake followers to recover the investment tenfold through inflated gig fees. According to Bering, artificial metrics are often easy to spot due to a lack of genuine interaction despite high follower counts. "It's not the case that 300,000 people in India or Vietnam are suddenly celebrating this act in such an unbelievable way," he noted, pointing out that Spotify streams are similarly manipulated. Impact on line-ups and emerging talent Bering directed much of his criticism at promoters and bookers who fail to verify audience authenticity or rely on personal connections. He warned that artificially inflated acts often deliver underwhelming live performances, which damages the overall reputation of event organizers. "If guests repeatedly experience mediocre acts that have bought their reach, at some point they get the impression that this is exactly the quality that can be expected at festivals in the long term," Bering said. While Bering emphasized that his own career remains stable enough to support his family, he expressed concern for artists who build their careers organically. He argued that fake metrics displace hardworking, talented newcomers from festival stages and line-up slots.