Tag: artist support

Introducing Verified by Spotify, a Signal of Authenticity and Trust for the Artists Behind the Music

April 30, 2026

A Visual of Ravyn Lenae's Spotify profile, displaying "Verified by Spotify" text with a green check mark

Music is evolving, and so are the ways you discover and connect with artists. In the AI era, it’s more important than ever to be able to trust the authenticity of the music you listen to. At Spotify, our focus is providing you with more context about artists and their music, so you can build more meaningful connections with them.

Today, we’re introducing a new Verified by Spotify badge, as well as additional details about artists’ activity (in beta) on Spotify. These updates build on recent song-level context features like SongDNA, expanded song credits, About the Song, and AI credits, all designed to give you more insight and transparency into the music and artists you’re discovering.

A clearer signal on artist profiles

Artist profiles are a key place to learn more about music and artists. The new Verified by Spotify badge shows an artist profile has been reviewed and meets Spotify’s criteria for authenticity and trust. And with Artist Profile Protection (currently in beta), artists now have greater control over what appears on their profile, which helps to ensure the music you see is coming from them.

Artists who receive this badge have:

    • Consistent listener activity and engagement over time: We focus our review on artist profiles that listeners are actively and intentionally seeking out over a sustained period of time, not just those experiencing one-time spikes in engagement. These criteria also make it feasible to conduct thorough reviews across millions of artist profiles. 
    • Good standing with Spotify’s platform policies: This means the artist and their content comply with our platform rules.
    • Signals of a real artist represented in the profile: We look for an identifiable artist presence both on and off-platform, like concert dates, merch, and linked social accounts on their artist profile. At launch, profiles that appear to primarily represent AI-generated or AI-persona artists are not eligible for verification. In today’s music landscape, the concept of artist authenticity is complex and quickly evolving, and we’ll continue to develop our approach over time.

We’ll pair these standards with human review and judgment to identify real artists behaving in good-faith, not just filtering out bad actors, giving you a more reliable signal of the authentic artistry behind the music.

Rolling out over time

You’ll begin seeing the new badge appear on artist profiles and next to artist names in search over the coming weeks. It will be marked by “Verified by Spotify” text and a light green checkmark icon. Because Spotify is home to millions of uploaders and artist profiles, reviews and verification will happen on an ongoing basis to ensure accuracy and consistency. Not seeing the badge on an artist profile doesn’t mean they won’t receive it in the future.

At launch, we have ensured that more than 99% of the artists Spotify listeners actively search for will be verified, representing hundreds of thousands of artists—the majority independent—spanning genres, career stages, and geographies. This means prioritizing artists with active fan interest, or who have made important contributions to music culture and history, rather than functional music creators and content farms whose content is primarily designed for passive or background listening.

More context about the artist

We’re also introducing a new section (in beta) across all artist profiles—regardless of Verified by Spotify status—that highlights key artist details like career milestones, release activity, and touring activity, helping you better understand and connect with the artist beyond the music. 

Much like nutrition facts offer a quick, reliable snapshot on what’s inside packaged food, these details—based on Spotify’s platform data—give meaningful signals of an artist’s authentic activity on Spotify, even for those who haven’t yet met our Verified by Spotify criteria.

You’ll begin seeing this in the About section on mobile across artist profiles in the coming weeks, as well as by clicking “Verified by Spotify” in the banner for verified artists.

Verified Artist UX - Del Water Gap

Looking ahead

In a landscape that’s complex and rapidly evolving, we know we won’t get everything right from day one. We’ve designed this new verification program thoughtfully with listeners and artists in mind, and we’ll continue to evolve this program over time. Our goal is to make it easier for you to trust and understand the human artistry behind the music you listen to on Spotify, and develop long-term, meaningful connections with the artists and music you love.

B-LINE Is Here to Help: Backline Launches 24/7 Music Industry Mental Health & Crisis Support Line in Partnership with Spotify

January 27, 2026

backline logo and Spotify bug

Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading mental health and wellness nonprofit, in the launch of B-LINE, a 24/7 mental health and crisis support line created exclusively for the U.S. music community. For artists, their teams, and their families, B-LINE provides a connection to trained counselors who understand the unique pressures of working in music and are available around the clock. This first-of-its-kind service is open now.

The new hotline builds on the momentum from initiatives like Chappell Roan’s WE GOT YOU! fundraising campaign for Backline, which rallied the industry to better care for its own. As lead sponsor, Spotify is honored to help bring B-LINE to life alongside key partners Noah Kahan and Live Nation. Additional support comes from Kahan’s The Busyhead Project, Adyen, AEG Presents, Red Light Management, and Wasserman Foundation.

“Artists are the lifeblood of culture, but too often they and their teams don’t have the safety nets they need. That has to change,” said Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s Global Head of Music. “Spotify is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to this critical support.”

Available in the U.S., B-LINE provides anyone working in and around music with immediate, confidential support and a seamless transition into long-term care. Backline is working with experts like Vibrant Emotional Health, a national leader in mental health, to deliver this service.

“This has always been the dream,” said Hilary Gleason, Backline Cofounder and Executive Director. “We’ve supported thousands of music industry professionals in their mental health and wellness journeys, but one critical piece was missing: real-time access to care. B-LINE changes that.”

The widespread support from across the industry speaks to the urgent need for this resource. “Support for the well-being of the incredibly hard-working artists and people that make the music industry function has long been neglected,” said Kahan. “A dedicated 24-hour hotline is the first step toward accessing critical mental health support.” Michael Rapino, Live Nation Entertainment President & CEO, added, “B-LINE gives them something we’ve long needed: immediate help, anytime.”

This partnership is part of Spotify’s ongoing commitment to creator well-being, which extends globally. For a full guide on how B-LINE works and to explore additional resources, including crisis support for those working outside the U.S., head to Spotify for Artists.

To connect with B-LINE, call 1-855-BLINE99 or text BLINE9 to 254-639.

Spotify and Youth Music Open Doors for Future Artists

July 10, 2025

The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft, leaving a critical gap in the evolution of new sounds and future careers.

The need for creative spaces has never been more urgent. Between 2010 and 2023, more than 1,200 youth centers closed across the U.K.—an average of one every week. These losses hit underserved communities the hardest, stripping young artists of the safe, supportive environments they need to grow.

To help change this trajectory, Spotify is strengthening our commitment to youth well-being and creativity through the Open Doors Fund, part of our ongoing partnership with Youth Music. Backed by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, the initiative provides essential funding and opportunities to empower the next generation of creators—and ensure the spaces that shape them not only survive, but thrive.

Championing youth spaces across the U.K.

To amplify this effort and spark national conversation, Spotify and Youth Music have launched a multichannel campaign that brings the realities facing youth spaces into sharp focus through powerful storytelling and public engagement.

Our hero video captures a week inside a youth center, showcasing the creativity and community these spaces make possible. Acclaimed artist and advocate Kojey Radical dropped in to spend time with Girl Grind UK, a youth music space where young women are building confidence, community, and creative careers, to witness the impact of these spaces firsthand.

Across London, out-of-home placements amplify youth voices in public spaces, while a coordinated social media campaign encourages audiences to engage, share, and take action.

The campaign also lives on-platform through Open Doors, a bespoke playlist curated with Kojey. Featuring both established and emerging U.K. artists who began their journeys in grassroots spaces, the playlist celebrates the vital role these centers play in nurturing talent and calls for their continued protection.

Spotify London welcomes the next generation of creators

As part of our commitment to the Open Doors campaign, Spotify brought the mission to life within our own walls, hosting an inspiring Open Doors Day at our London office. The event welcomed young people from 15 youth centers supported by the Open Doors Fund, offering a space for connection and creativity.

The urgency behind this work is clear. Youth Music warns that within the next decade, young people across eight U.K. regions could lose access to vital music projects. Chronic underfunding—made worse by the cost-of-living crisis—has pushed many community spaces to the brink. Today, two in five (41%) grassroots youth music projects are at risk of closure, a sharp 17% rise since 2024.

“These spaces are the heart of local communities, giving young people a place to feel connected, inspired, and empowered,” said Matt Griffiths, CEO, Youth Music. “With Spotify’s support, we can give these vital spaces a lifeline, ensuring they continue to serve young people for years to come.”

Open Doors Day was designed to equip the next generation with real tools for success. Through hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes industry insights, and conversations with the Spotify and Youth Music teams, attendees gained invaluable guidance on building creative careers. The day also featured special appearances by award-winning artist Guvna B and Grammy-nominated songwriter Carla Marie Williams MBE, who shared their journeys and inspired young creators to keep pushing forward.

Empowering generations to come

The Open Doors Fund is about more than just keeping the lights on. It’s about lifting up young people, fostering creativity, and providing pathways into the music industry. A staggering 54% of Youth Music’s funded partners have a waiting list of young people eager to participate, but a lack of funds prevents them from doing so. 

Spotify and Youth Music are committed to extending the Open Doors Fund into 2026, ensuring that even more youth spaces receive the funding they need to continue supporting young people. 

“The Open Doors Fund isn’t just about preserving spaces—it’s about powering what’s possible,” said Kristin Jarett, Social Impact Lead, Spotify. “When young people have the tools, the space, and the support, they create the future of music. We’re committed to making sure those doors stay open.”

The Spotify and Youth Music partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of investing in the next generation of artists. By providing essential resources and opportunities, the Open Doors Fund is helping to keep the beat alive by ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have the chance to pursue their musical dreams. Because the artists of tomorrow need a space to begin.

To learn more about the Open Doors Fund, or to get involved with Youth Music, visit here.