Nobody hands independent artists a manual. How do you book a tour, read a contract, make a great music video, or know when you’re ready for a manager? Many artists figure it out alone. In September, Spotify launched Fresh Finds Forward , a program giving approximately 10,000 emerging independent artists each year resources, community, and support to answer those questions, turning early momentum into long-term growth. This week, we’re bringing hundreds from the program’s inaugural class together in Los Angeles for the first Fresh Finds Summit. On November 4 and 5, Spotify will offer two days of masterclasses, live feedback, and honest conversations with artists, songwriters, and executives who were once where these emerging artists are now and went on to build successful careers. “A Fresh Finds placement can be the moment an artist gets heard for the first time,” said Joe Hadley , Spotify’s Global Head of Music Content and Partnerships. “The Summit brings Fresh Finds Forward to life in person, with two days of real, practical guidance from artists and industry leaders who’ve built lasting careers, shared with artists at a pivotal moment in their own.” On the agenda
Sessions will cover the parts of the business that matter most early in a career: songwriting, touring, money, building a team, making music videos, protecting your mental health, and how music curation works. Artists will also get live feedback on their own songs. Speakers include John Legend , Ryan Tedder , María Zardoya of The Marías and Not For Radio , Quinn XCII , JP Saxe , 8AE , and Solly , alongside leaders from Backline, CAA, Good World, True Panther, and more, plus Spotify’s own editors. Some, like María Zardoya, were once Fresh Finds artists themselves. Fresh Finds Forward partners Splice , LANDR , and BetterHelp will also be on-site to help artists make the most of the tools and resources available to them through the program…
