Spotify Launches Fresh Finds Forward to Expand Support for Independent Artists
A new Spotify program will provide eligible emerging artists with a year of resources, tools, community access, and growth opportunities.
Spotify Launches Fresh Finds Forward to Expand Support for Independent Artists
SSO INDUSTRY UPDATE
Spotify is expanding its support for emerging independent artists with Fresh Finds Forward, a new program designed to turn early editorial momentum into longer-term artist development.
Spotify has introduced Fresh Finds Forward, an expansion of its long-running Fresh Finds ecosystem that will provide approximately 10,000 emerging independent artists each year with additional resources, community access, and platform support.
The program builds on more than a decade of Fresh Finds, Spotify’s editorial initiative focused on discovering and championing independent, unsigned, and early-career artists across genres and markets.
According to Spotify, Fresh Finds playlists have supported more than 80,000 artists across 127 countries. Since 2024 alone, the playlists have generated more than 128 million new artist discoveries, with nearly 70% of streams representing a listener hearing an artist for the first time.
From Editorial Discovery to Artist Development
Fresh Finds Forward is designed to extend the impact of editorial discovery beyond a playlist placement.
Artists who qualify for the program can receive access to a range of opportunities intended to support creative development, audience growth, industry education, and long-term career infrastructure.
Program benefits may include
- Free studio time for U.S.-based artists at select studios, including Electric Lady Studios in New York, The Lighthouse at Ocean Way Nashville, and Spotify Studios in Los Angeles
- Early access to select Spotify tools and features
- Prioritized consideration for select Spotify tour and music-video partnerships
- A Fresh Finds badge displayed on eligible Spotify artist profiles
- In-person and virtual programming with Spotify teams and Fresh Finds alumni
- Premium access to creative tools, including LANDR Studio Pro and the Splice Creator Plan
- Artist wellness resources, including access to therapy support through BetterHelp
Who Is Eligible?
Spotify states that artists added to any eligible Fresh Finds playlist on or after January 1, 2026 may be invited to join Fresh Finds Forward through Spotify for Artists.
Once onboarded, participating artists can access program benefits for 12 months.
For independent artists seeking consideration for Fresh Finds, Spotify continues to recommend pitching unreleased music directly to its editorial team through Spotify for Artists.
Why This Matters
Fresh Finds has increasingly functioned as an early discovery layer for artists who later move into larger editorial ecosystems.
Spotify reports that more than half of artists featured through Fresh Finds later receive placement on additional editorial playlists, including major destinations such as New Music Friday, RapCaviar, and Lorem.
Past Fresh Finds artists include Laufey, Clairo, ROLE MODEL, Ethel Cain, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Royel Otis, Omar Apollo, Doechii, Ice Spice, Japanese Breakfast, Wet Leg, and sombr.
Fresh Finds Forward creates a more formal bridge between that initial editorial recognition and the infrastructure artists may need to capitalize on it.
For SSO Artists
SSO Artists Entertainment continues to monitor new platform opportunities that can expand visibility, creative resources, and professional development for independent artists.
Artists within the SSO ecosystem who receive qualifying Fresh Finds placement should monitor their Spotify for Artists accounts for program notifications and eligibility information.
As streaming platforms continue investing beyond playlist placement alone, programs like Fresh Finds Forward represent a broader shift toward combining editorial discovery, artist tools, education, access, and career development within a single platform ecosystem.
Source
Spotify Newsroom
“Introducing Fresh Finds Forward: Spotify’s New Program to Champion the Next Generation of Independent Artists”
Published September 17, 2026.
SSO Artists Entertainment
Artist development, distribution, technology, and global music infrastructure.