Spotify has announced a new program today called Fresh Finds Forward, which will empower approximately 10,000 emerging independent artists.
The leading DSP says that each year they will provide resources, community and support beyond playlist discovery to “help turn early momentum into long-term growth.” Spotify’s global team of music editors curates Fresh Finds playlists, finding and supporting independent, unsigned, and up-and-coming musicians across genres and markets. Over the course of more than 10 years, these playlists have assisted more than 80,000 musicians from 127 different countries in breaking through and gaining new fans at a crucial juncture in their careers.
Some of the artists featured above in the past include Laufey, Clairo, ROLE MODEL, Ethel Cain, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Royel Otis, and Omar Apollo. Participating artists in Fresh Finds Forward will receive 12 months of benefits including:
Free studio time
Early access to select Spotify tools and features
Exclusive programming and community
Prioritized access to tour or music video partnerships with Spotify.
Premium access to digital tools like LANDR and Splice
Mental health and wellness resources
From January 1, 2026 onward, all eligible artists added to any Fresh Finds playlist globally are invited to join Fresh Finds Forward via Spotify for Artists and, once onboarded, can access the program’s benefits for 12 months. Spotify says that for artists hoping to be considered for Fresh Finds, the best way to get music in front of their editors is to pitch an upcoming release through Spotify for Artists.
“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 program 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.”