GoKawiilis the Verge’s weekend editor. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.
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Getting added to Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlists can be a huge break for artists trying to cut through the noise on streaming. Now Spotify is launching a program called Fresh Finds Forward, which aims to give artists the tools to capitalize on that exposure. Artists added to any Fresh Finds playlist after January 1st, 2026, can join the program and get 12 months of additional resources, the most extravagant of which is free studio time for US-based artists at Electric Lady Studios in NYC, The Lighthouse at Ocean Way Nashville, or Spotify Music Studios in LA.
Beyond that, artists will get early access to Spotify tools and features, priority access to tour and music video partnerships, as well as 12 months of Landr Studio Pro and Splice’s Creator Plan. Spotify is also offering artists six months of free therapy through BetterHelp, because we all know trying to make it as a musician is stressful and potentially soul-crushing, as scoring a Fresh Finds placement doesn’t guarantee there won’t be further rejections and failures.
Unlike with the so-called Discovery Mode, where artists were paid a “promotional royalty rate,” in exchange for higher algorithmic promotion, Spotify says the Fresh Finds Forward program doesn’t change royalty rates, and is provided completely free of charge to participating artists.