Updated: November 2026 · Diskover Team
Quick answer: This month’s Spotify for Artists news comes down to three things: getting ready for Wrapped 2026 (video messages and new performance videos), the “Verified by Spotify” badge, which separates real artists from AI-generated profiles, and Artist Profile Protection, which lets you review releases credited to you before they appear. Spotify has also announced an AI remix and cover tool for 2027. At Diskover we explain what each change means and what you need to do.
Wrapped 2026: what you can still prepare
Wrapped is the moment of the year when music gets shared the most: according to Spotify, fans shared their Wrapped content more than 635 million times last year. Since mid-October, Spotify for Artists has had a dedicated page for preparing the 2026 campaign, which is expected to launch in early December.
- Video messages for your fans: vertical clips under 30 seconds, uploaded from the video tab in Spotify for Artists. The deadline for them to be included in Wrapped was 6 November, so if you missed it, put it in your diary for next year.
- Performance videos (new for 2026): live, acoustic or studio performances that appear in fans’ “Your Top Songs” playlist. For now, they are only available to artists in the video upload beta.
Quick checklist before Wrapped
Even if you missed the videos, you still have time to get your profile ready for when fans come to look:
- Update your bio and profile photo with what you have achieved this year.
- Choose an Artist Pick: your latest release, a video or a playlist of your 2026 favourites.
- Check the Canvases on your most-played tracks.
- Connect your merch shop and update your gig dates.
- If you are releasing music before the end of the year, upload it in good time. With Diskover your track reaches Spotify in under 24 hours, but to prepare your editorial pitch it is best to schedule it several weeks ahead. We explain how in our guide to uploading music to Spotify.
“Verified by Spotify”: the badge that separates real artists from AI
On 20 October Spotify reviewed its first year of fighting spam and AI-generated content. The most important point for an independent artist is the Verified by Spotify badge: it shows that there is a real, identifiable person behind the profile. Spotify says more than 300,000 artists are already verified and that over 70% of them are independent.
According to Spotify’s help centre, these are the criteria:
| Criterion | What Spotify asks for |
|---|---|
| Sustained activity | At least 10,000 monthly listeners for three consecutive months and a minimum of 1,000 followers. |
| Policy compliance | No repeated spam, impersonation or breaches of the platform’s policies. |
| Authentic profile | An honest bio, a catalogue that is mostly music and public signs of identity, such as linked social accounts, gigs or merch. |
Reviews are ongoing and meeting the criteria does not guarantee the badge. Profiles that are mainly AI-created personas cannot get it, but if you use AI tools responsibly and present yourself as you are, you can still qualify.
Our advice at Diskover: focus on what is in your hands: a complete profile, linked socials and announced dates. Listener numbers come from consistent releases and real promotion. If you want to boost them, Unlimited and PRO artists get 10% off micro-influencer campaigns with ZYNK.
Artist Profile Protection: review what is released under your name
Finding music that isn’t yours on your profile, whether from a metadata error or impersonation, is really frustrating. Spotify is testing Artist Profile Protection, and according to its October update it wants to open it to all artists before the end of 2026.
- It alerts you when a release you are credited on reaches Spotify and lets you review it in the music tab of Spotify for Artists.
- You have up to 28 days from the release date to remove the ones that aren’t yours.
- With the advanced settings, no release appears on your profile without your approval. You can share an “artist key” with trusted providers so their releases arrive pre-approved.
Note: the “content provider” shown on each release is the company that delivers the music to Spotify, in other words your distributor. If you don’t recognise a provider, ask before approving or declining anything. At Diskover a real person from our team will help you sort it out, quickly.
The 1,000-stream threshold also curbs AI
Since 2024, a track needs at least 1,000 streams in 12 months to generate royalties on Spotify. Spotify now explains that this rule also helps it curb mass-produced AI content: according to its data, tracks showing signs of being made with AI are 10 times more likely to fall below the threshold.
For you, the message is simple: it is better to release fewer songs and work them properly than to fill your profile with tracks nobody listens to. To work out what your streams generate, use our Spotify royalty calculator.
AI remixes and covers: what we know for 2027
Spotify has also announced a feature that lets subscribers create AI remixes or covers of participating tracks, developed with the distributor Believe. According to the Financial Times, it will cost around 5 dollars a month on top of the subscription and will arrive in early 2027. Spotify says rights holders will be paid for those plays, but it is not yet known how the money will be split.
If you write your own songs, this is where publishing comes in. With Diskover Publishing we collect your songwriter royalties, you keep 75% of your publishing royalties and, if you are not with any collecting society, we register you as a songwriter and register your works with UNISON for free.
How Diskover helps you with all this
- Fast, human customer support and offices in Madrid (Calle Luis I 86, 28031) for any question about metadata, profiles or releases that aren’t yours.
- If you stop paying, we don’t delete your music: it moves to the free plan with an 80/20 split.
- Unlimited and PRO artists get 10% off at Diskover Studios, on our film set (ideal for recording performance videos) and with ZYNK.
Want to reach Wrapped 2027 with your profile ready? Distribute your music with Diskover from €1.99/month.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still upload a video message for Wrapped 2026?
No. The deadline for messages to be included in Wrapped 2026 was 6 November. Even so, you can update your profile, Artist Pick and Canvases before Wrapped launches in early December.
How do I get the Verified by Spotify badge?
Spotify reviews profiles on a rolling basis. It asks for at least 10,000 monthly listeners for three consecutive months, 1,000 followers, compliance with its policies and an authentic profile. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee the badge.
What should I do if a song that isn’t mine appears on my profile?
If you have Artist Profile Protection, you can remove it from Spotify for Artists within 28 days of its release. If you don’t, contact your distributor. At Diskover a real person from our team will help you.
Will I get paid if someone makes an AI remix of my song on Spotify?
Spotify says artists and rights holders will be paid for remixes of participating tracks, but it has not yet explained how the money will be split. The feature is planned for early 2027.
How many streams does a track need to generate royalties on Spotify?
At least 1,000 streams in the last 12 months. Below that figure, the track does not generate recording royalties on Spotify.
