Spotify launches Independent Artists Fresh Finds program

Spotify has announced a new partnership program for independent artists based around its popular Fresh Finds playlist.

Launching alongside 13 regional Fresh Finds playlists around the world, including a new playlist for Australia/New Zealand, the program aims to assist artists to learn, collaborate and grow, helping them develop crucial skills for long-term career success.

To kick off the initiative, Spotify has selected four artists - Wallice, Unusual Demont, Julia Wolf and EKKSTACY - to join the first 'class' of the Fresh Finds program, giving them access to educational resources, creative collaborations with a host of renowned artists and producers and marketing support to assist in promoting their releases.

Each artist will have the opportunity to create an original song to be released in June under the Spotify Singles banner, and will also take part in a social media documentary series Spotify Clips.

Since launching in 2016, Fresh Finds has playlisted over 25,000 artists and has helped to kick off the careers of acclaimed acts like Clairo, Amine, Omar Apollo and 100 gecs.

Artists who appear on the Fresh Finds playlist often experience a huge bump in average monthly listeners in the 28 days following their addition, with 44% of those artists going on to be added to another editorial playlist on Spotify as a result.