You know it won't go to the artists. Spotify takes it and at best some publishers (or what name they choose in music) get a little cut on the top to keep in good graces.

This is definitely wrong but this is exactly why I don't really have any sympathy here.

On top of the fact that Spotify probably also did and does the exact same scheme, but that was in a period of "market capture mode" and the adverts didn't care enough to not be frauded. Instead playing the long game. (Blitzar in another response explained this better than I did).