Spotify is launching Fresh Finds Forward, a new programme for independent artists.
The streaming giant’s initiative aims to give approximately 10,000 emerging independent artists each year the resources, community and support to turn early momentum into long-term growth.
Fresh Finds playlists are curated by Spotify's worldwide team of music editors, who discover and champion independent, unsigned and early-career artists across genres and markets around the world.
For more than a decade, these playlists have helped more than 80,000 artists across 127 countries break through and find new listeners at a critical point in their careers.
Artists who have featured on Fresh Finds playlists early in their careers include Laufey, Clairo, Role Model, Ethel Cain, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Royel Otis and Omar Apollo. For five consecutive years, Fresh Finds alumni have earned Grammy Best New Artist nominations, including Sombr, Doechii, Japanese Breakfast, Ice Spice and Wet Leg.
Since 2024, Fresh Finds playlists have driven more than 128 million new artist discoveries, with nearly 70% of the playlists’ streams representing a listener hearing an artist for the first time. More than half of Fresh Finds artists go on to be placed on other editorial playlists such as New Music Friday, RapCaviar or Lorem.
We spent years listening to what independent artists actually need, and those conversations shaped what this programme would become
Joe Hadley
“When our editors feature an emerging, independent artist on a playlist, it can be a springboard for visibility that brings new listeners and new opportunities,” said a Spotify statement. “And with the connections, community, and know-how we have at Spotify, Fresh Finds Forward is how we turn that moment of discovery into something bigger, putting dedicated resources behind these artists to help them grow.”
"Fresh Finds has always been about finding artists at a pivotal moment and helping them reach new audiences at the right time,” said Joe Hadley, Spotify's global head of music content and partnerships. “We spent years listening to what independent artists actually need, and those conversations shaped what this programme would become. Fresh Finds Forward takes everything we've learned from a decade of discovery and builds a support system around it, so participating artists aren't just getting a playlist placement, they're getting the benefits, resources, and the community to make the most of that moment."
Benefits offered through the programme include:
– Free studio time for US-based artists at studios including Electric Lady Studios in NYC, The Lighthouse at Ocean Way Nashville, and Spotify Studios in LA
– Early access to select Spotify tools and features
– Prioritised access to tour or music video partnerships with Spotify
– A Fresh Finds badge on their Spotify artist profile, signaling editorial recognition
– In-person and virtual events to connect and learn from Spotify team members and Fresh Finds alumni
– Premium access to digital tools like LANDR Studio Pro and Splice's Creator Plan
– Mental health and wellness resources, including six months of free therapy through BetterHelp.
For artists hoping to be considered for Fresh Finds, the best way to get music in front of editors is to pitch an upcoming release through Spotify For Artists.
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