NEW YORK, New York — Spotify is expanding its Fresh Finds program into a yearlong support system expected to reach approximately 10,000 emerging independent artists annually.
Fresh Finds Forward offers eligible artists studio access, professional creative software, early access to selected Spotify tools, educational events, possible tour and music-video opportunities, and mental-health resources.
Playlist placement is the entry point
The program is not an open grant application. Artists added to an eligible Fresh Finds playlist beginning January 1, 2026, are invited through Spotify for Artists. Once enrolled, participants can use the benefits for 12 months.
Independent artists hoping to be considered must pitch an unreleased song through Spotify for Artists. Spotify’s worldwide music editors decide which recordings enter the Fresh Finds playlists.
Spotify says Fresh Finds playlists have featured more than 80,000 artists from 127 countries during the past decade. Since 2024, the company says the playlists have generated more than 128 million instances in which listeners discovered an artist for the first time.
What participating artists receive
- Studio time for United States-based artists at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, The Lighthouse at Ocean Way in Nashville and Spotify Studios in Los Angeles
- LANDR Studio Pro and the Splice Creator Plan
- Early access to selected Spotify tools and features
- Priority consideration for certain touring and music-video partnerships
- Virtual and in-person events with Spotify staff and program alumni
- Six months of therapy through BetterHelp
An opportunity—with unanswered questions
The additional resources could help independent artists turn a short burst of playlist attention into longer-term audience development. Spotify has not yet fully explained how benefits differ by country, how many artists receive the most valuable opportunities or what audience data participants can retain and use outside the platform.
For artists preparing a Spotify pitch, the recording still comes first. A carefully researched song, accurate metadata, a realistic release plan and credible promotional support are more useful than treating editorial placement as a guarantee.