Spotify offers 10,000 indie artists studio time, software and therapy
Spotify will give about 10,000 emerging independent artists a year free studio time, music software and six months of therapy under a new scheme called Fresh Finds Forward.
The company announced the programme on 17 September, with details reported by Music Business Worldwide. Each artist invited will receive 12 months of benefits from the point of onboarding.
The scheme is built around Fresh Finds, Spotify’s group of playlists that spotlight unsigned acts and musicians early in their careers. Eligibility is backdated to 1 January 2026. Any artist added to a Fresh Finds playlist since that date will be invited through Spotify for Artists, the dashboard where musicians manage their profiles and pitch songs for playlists.
The most restricted perk is studio time. It is limited to US-based artists. Sessions will run at three sites: Electric Lady Studios in New York, The Lighthouse at Ocean Way Nashville, and Spotify Studios in Los Angeles.
All participants, regardless of location, receive premium access to two creation tools. They get LANDR Studio Pro, which covers mastering and other release services, and Splice’s Creator plan, which offers royalty-free samples and sounds for building tracks. They also get six months of free therapy through BetterHelp.
Members get three further extras. They receive a Fresh Finds badge on their Spotify artist profile. They get early access to selected Spotify tools and features. And they get prioritised access to tour or music video partnerships with Spotify.
Fresh Finds has long been Spotify’s main discovery route for DIY acts. The playlists have featured more than 70,000 emerging independent artists, according to Spotify for Artists. An earlier version of the support programme, launched in 2021, gave selected artists one-to-one mentorship with Spotify staff over six to eight weeks, according to Spotify Newsroom.
What makes this stand out is the mix. Studio hours and software cut recording costs. A profile badge and early tool access help with visibility. Therapy addresses a working pressure that rarely appears in release announcements.
