A fake Bridgit Mendler EP sat on her official Spotify and Apple Music profiles for a week, despite Artist Profile Protection
Fans of Bridgit Mendler found a new EP called “Once Again…” on her official Spotify and Apple Music profiles in early June 2026. One problem: she didn’t make it. The former Disney Channel star confirmed the release was fake, and the episode is the first high-profile stress test of Spotify’s Artist Profile Protection, per Digital Music News.
Sorry to disappoint everyone, the Spotify release wasn't me! When it is, trust me, you'll know.
How a fake EP reached Mendler’s verified profiles
The release sat on her profiles for about a week before Mendler’s statement on X. Fake releases enter through the distribution pipeline: an uploader submits tracks with metadata pointing at an existing artist, and the platforms map them onto the verified page. Spotify confirmed the EP has been removed.
A Spotify spokesperson called protecting artist identities “a top priority” and pointed to Artist Profile Protection, the opt-in beta it launched in March 2026 as the only tool of its kind among streaming services. Enrolled artists review and approve every incoming release before it goes live.
Spotify’s Artist Profile Protection works only if you opt in
The wording in Spotify’s statement carries the real news: the system works for artists who joined the beta. Mendler, by every indication, hadn’t. No review step existed between an anonymous upload and her verified profile, so the EP published like any legitimate release.
Apple Music, where the fake EP also appeared, offers no equivalent review feature at all.
Dormant catalogs are the easiest AI impersonation targets
Mendler stepped away from music years ago and now runs Northwood Space, an aerospace communications startup she co-founded in 2023. Nobody was watching her release radar, which is exactly the profile impersonators pick. A fake Taylor Swift drop gets flagged in minutes, like the fake video YouTube hosted in March. A fake Mendler EP ran for a week.
The gatekeeping problem sits upstream of Spotify. Distributors decide what enters the pipeline, which is why TikTok SoundOn’s fraud-detection deal with ACRCloud matters: the filter has to run before the upload spreads to every DSP at once.
Frequently asked questions
Did Bridgit Mendler release a new EP in 2026?
No. The EP "Once Again..." appeared on her official Spotify and Apple Music profiles in early June 2026, but Mendler confirmed on X the release wasn't hers. Spotify removed it after her statement.
What is Spotify's Artist Profile Protection?
It's an opt-in beta feature Spotify launched in March 2026. Enrolled artists review incoming releases attributed to them and approve or decline each one before it goes live on their profile. Spotify says it is the only streaming service offering this.
How did a fake EP get onto Bridgit Mendler's Spotify profile?
Fake releases reach official artist profiles through the distribution pipeline, where metadata maps an upload to an existing artist page. Mendler had presumably not opted into Artist Profile Protection, so no review step existed between the upload and her verified profile.
About the author
Covering AI music tools, industry shifts, and news for music creators and professionals. Twice-weekly newsletter at aimusicpreneur.com.
