Spotify opens Fresh Finds Forward to independent artists on its discovery playlists
Artists added to Fresh Finds playlists from 1 January 2026 can join a 12-month support program through Spotify for Artists.
Spotify has launched Fresh Finds Forward, a program the company says will reach roughly 10,000 emerging independent artists each year. From 1 January 2026 onward, every eligible artist added to any Fresh Finds playlist is invited to join through Spotify for Artists and, once onboarded, can use the benefits for 12 months. Notifications began rolling out on the day of the announcement.
The package includes early access to selected Spotify tools, prioritised access to tour and music-video partnerships, a Fresh Finds badge on the artist profile, in-person and virtual events, premium plans for LANDR Studio Pro and Splice, and six months of free therapy through BetterHelp. Free studio time — Electric Lady in New York, The Lighthouse at Ocean Way Nashville, Spotify Studios in Los Angeles — is limited to U.S.-based artists.
By Spotify's own figures, Fresh Finds has featured over 80,000 artists across 127 countries. For artists elsewhere, the route in stays the same: pitching an upcoming release through Spotify for Artists.
Source: Spotify — For the Record
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