Tag: creator support

Spotify, The Black List, and The Jed Foundation Team Up To Champion Mental Health in Fiction

February 12, 2025

Stories have the power to change the way we see the world, and when it comes to mental health, the right story can make all the difference. That’s why Spotify is partnering with The Black List, a platform for writers to showcase their projects for industry professionals, and The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide among our nation’s teens and young adults, to launch the Spotify x JED Impact Award—an initiative supporting exceptional depictions of mental health in unpublished fiction.

The Spotify x JED Impact Award will provide five $10,000 grants to recipients with unpublished manuscripts, with the goal of reshaping the conversation around mental health, diversifying mental health narratives in fiction, and promoting positive storytelling around mental health. As part of the initiative, Spotify will cover fee waivers, which will allow up to 140 writers to receive a free month of hosting and a free evaluation on the Black List platform.

“Stories about mental health have immense power to erase stigma and help people get the help that they need,” said Casey Acierno, Social Impact Lead at Spotify. “We’re so excited to partner with The Black List and The Jed Foundation to uplift unpublished manuscripts with meaningful depictions of mental health. Having entered the audiobooks space, Spotify knows the power of storytelling, and we’re thrilled to support writers in looking after themselves and the way they write about mental health.”

Supporting mental health through storytelling

This initiative underscores Spotify’s commitment to both creators and consumers, recognizing the power of storytelling to humanize mental health and foster understanding. In addition to supporting the creation of powerful new literature, we’re also working to amplify existing mental health audiobooks on our platform.

“Narratives in fiction can have a very real impact on our mental health—helping shape how we see ourselves, perceive our place in the world, navigate challenges, and discover possibilities for healing and growth,” said Courtney Knowles, Senior Media Advisor for The Jed Foundation. “JED and I are proud to partner on this initiative, celebrating and inspiring unpublished novels that entertain while creating connection and fostering emotional well-being.”

Beyond the grants, Spotify is offering additional resources for authors, including:

    • A mental health resource hub: Developed in collaboration with JED, the hub provides support both for writing about mental health and for writers’ own mental well-being. Resources include:
    • 1:1 consulting with JED for awardees: Providing personalized support and guidance.
    • Programming and content focused on authors’ mental well-being: Addressing the unique challenges faced by writers and offering support for their mental health journeys.

“The Spotify Social Impact team and The Jed Foundation are important stewards of intentional programming with meaningful impact. I’m thrilled to be partnering with them on this initiative to amplify exceptional depictions of mental health in unpublished fiction,” said Randy Winston, Creative Director of Fiction at The Black List. “Storytelling and mental health go hand in hand. Through powerful conversations, this partnership will raise awareness and empower writers at all levels to prioritize their well-being.”

Submit your story

Submissions are now open on The Black List’s website and will close on July 8, 2025. Authors can submit their English-language manuscripts globally. A judging panel featuring experts from Spotify, The Black List, and JED, along with soon-to-be-announced notable authors, will select the five winning manuscripts.

Award recipients will be announced on October 10, 2025 (World Mental Health Day). For more details on eligibility and the application process, visit the submission page.

Spotify Studios LA Offers Support to Creators and Music Industry Professionals Impacted by the Wildfires

February 11, 2025

Spotify is committed to supporting the creative community, especially during challenging times. In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, Spotify Studios LA is opening its doors to provide recording space and resources to podcast creators and music industry professionals who have been impacted and have lost access to their own studios or equipment.

These events can disrupt creative workflows, and we want to help affected creators and artists continue producing their work. For a limited time, and subject to recording studio availability, we’re offering access to recording studios at our LA Mateo campus, along with technical support and guidance from Spotify’s team.

“At Spotify, creativity is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jordan Newman, Senior Director, Content Partnerships at Spotify. “We understand how challenging this time has been for many impacted creators and artists, which is why we’re extending our Los Angeles studio spaces to ensure that every voice in our community remains amplified.”

This program is primarily for existing Spotify creator partners and artists in Los Angeles who have been affected by the wildfires. Due to high demand and limited availability, not all requests may be fulfilled, and session slots may be restricted. If you’re a podcast creator who has lost access to your recording space or equipment due to the fires, please complete this survey so we can determine how best to support you. Music industry professionals impacted by the fires should complete this survey.

We’re actively evaluating needs based on survey responses and will provide updates as we assess demand and availability. Our goal is to offer affected creators and artists up to three recording sessions each.

We encourage impacted individuals to reach out to discuss their specific circumstances. We’re dedicated to investing in the creative community and providing meaningful resources to help podcasters and artists thrive.