Spotify announces first Fresh Finds Summit for emerging artists
Spotify’s first Fresh Finds Summit offers masterclasses, industry insights and networking as the platform expands its support for emerging talent.
Spotify has announced its first Fresh Finds Summit, taking place in Los Angeles on November 4 and 5. The two-day event will bring together hundreds of emerging artists from the inaugural Fresh Finds Forward class for masterclasses, live feedback and conversations with established musicians and industry professionals.
The Summit builds on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Forward programme, launched in September to help approximately 10,000 emerging independent artists each year turn early recognition into long-term career growth.
What’s happening at Spotify’s Fresh Finds Summit?
Spotify says the first Fresh Finds Summit will focus on the practical challenges of building a music career, with sessions covering songwriting, touring, finances, building a team, music videos, mental health and music curation.
Artists will also receive live feedback on their own music, with speakers including John Legend, Ryan Tedder, María Zardoya of The Marías and Not For Radio, Quinn XCII and JP Saxe. Spotify editors and representatives from organisations including CAA, Backline and True Panther will also take part.
Fresh Finds Forward partners Splice, LANDR and BetterHelp will be present too, while Spotify’s partnership with Backline will provide wellbeing resources, including a dedicated wellness lounge.
The Summit will also give artists the chance to connect with others at a similar stage of their careers. Spotify will also film sessions and share them virtually with the thousands of artists involved in Fresh Finds Forward.
Spotify’s Fresh Finds expands beyond playlist discovery
The Summit represents another step in Spotify’s efforts to build on its long-running Fresh Finds playlist ecosystem. For more than a decade, Fresh Finds has helped more than 80,000 emerging independent artists reach new listeners through Spotify’s editorial playlists.
Fresh Finds Forward, launched in September, takes that discovery-focused approach further by providing eligible artists with 12 months of additional support. This includes access to creative tools, studio opportunities for US-based artists, industry connections, events and mental health resources.
Since Fresh Finds Forward launched, Spotify has hosted a global livestream Q&A with Isaiah Rashad and introduced its Found on Fresh Finds live performance video series, alongside events designed to bring emerging artists together.
The shift is significant because Spotify is looking beyond the initial playlist placement and towards what artists need to build on that momentum. Rather than focusing solely on introducing music to new listeners, Fresh Finds Forward aims to provide resources and connections that can help artists develop their careers.
What does Spotify’s Fresh Finds Summit mean for independent artists?
For independent artists and labels, Spotify’s latest initiative highlights the importance of turning discovery into something more sustainable.
A playlist placement can introduce music to a new audience, but building a lasting career involves much more than streaming numbers. Developing a live presence, understanding finances, building a team and maintaining creative momentum are all important parts of the process.
The first step is getting your music out there. RouteNote helps distribute your music to Spotify and other streaming platforms worldwide for free.
Spotify’s first Fresh Finds Summit is another reminder that getting discovered is only one part of an independent music career. The opportunities that follow, and how artists make the most of them, can be just as important.
Distribute your music to streaming platforms everywhere for free with RouteNote today.