The Apple Music page belonging to US singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, was reportedly compromised over the weekend. A song titled 'I Did It' briefly appeared on his discography, featuring an image of an abandoned Tesla registered to Burke as its artwork. The track, which has since been removed, is believed to be a version of an unreleased song from 2023, reportedly titled 'Celeste', though Burke has never officially acknowledged its existence.
This incident unfolds while Burke is currently in custody, facing grave charges of murdering and sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her body was discovered last year inside a Tesla linked to the musician. Burke has consistently denied all the accusations against him. Prosecutors began presenting their case against the singer at a preliminary trial last week, alleging that Burke killed Rivas Hernandez after she threatened to expose an alleged abuse.
The appearance of 'I Did It' on D4vd's profile, containing lyrics professing love for a girl named Celeste, has added a controversial layer to the ongoing legal proceedings. The song had previously leaked online in December 2023 but was never officially released. It is not confirmed whether the 'Celeste' in the song refers to Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The hacking of D4vd's Apple Music page is not an isolated event. Over the same weekend, separate unauthorised tracks also appeared on the profiles of high-profile artists Ariana Grande and the girl group Katseye. Both of these songs, one of which contained a racial slur, were swiftly removed. While the incidents highlight a broader vulnerability in music streaming platforms, there is currently no indication that these separate hacks are connected to the one affecting D4vd's account.
Streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify have increasingly faced challenges with unauthorised content. This can range from AI-generated collaborations, such as a track featuring Drake and The Weeknd that was removed in 2023, to artists impersonating others or falsely claiming collaborations. These fake tracks exploit a loophole in how audio files and metadata are uploaded, often remaining online until a rights-owner detects them. Spotify, for instance, revealed last September that it had removed over 75 million 'spammy tracks' in the preceding 12 months and introduced an 'Artist Profile Protection' tool in March to help musicians review new additions.
The broader issue of platform security and content moderation remains a significant concern for the music industry. As artists' profiles become targets for malicious actors, the integrity of digital music catalogues and the accurate representation of artists' work are under scrutiny. The ongoing legal battle for Burke, combined with these digital security breaches, continues to keep the musician in the public eye.