Tech Desk 
May 01, 2026
Spotify on Friday launched a new 'Verified by Spotify' badge, which is set to help listeners more easily identify authentic human artists. To receive the badge, artists must meet certain criteria.
The music streaming platform stated that Spotify looks for an identifiable artist presence both on and off platform, like concert dates, merch, and linked social accounts on their artist profile. Profiles that primarily represent AI-generated music or AI-persona artists are not eligible for verification.
"Artists must have consistent listener activity and engagement over time. Spotify is focusing on artist profiles that people are actively seeking out over a sustained period of time, rather than those that are experiencing one-time spikes in engagement."
Users will start to see the new badges appear on artist profiles and next to artist names in search results over the coming weeks. The badges will feature 'Verified by Spotify' text alongside a green checkmark.
“We’ve designed this new verification program thoughtfully with listeners and artists in mind, and we’ll continue to evolve this program over time,” Spotify wrote in a blog post. “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.”
Spotify said that verification will roll out on an ongoing basis, and that the absence of a badge does not mean a profile will not receive one in the future.
Spotify is prioritising artists with active fan interest and notable contributions to music culture, rather than so-called 'functional music' creators — think algorithm-optimized background or focus playlists — whose content is designed for passive or background listening.
