Spotify Changes Artist Verification: What the New Green Checkmark Means

Spotify has changed the way artist verification works, replacing its old verification system and introducing a new “Verified by Spotify” badge.

The change means that simply claiming an artist profile through Spotify for Artists no longer represents the same type of verification many artists were familiar with.

So, what does Spotify’s new green checkmark mean, who qualifies for it, and how can artists get verified?

Here’s what you need to know.

What Happened to Spotify’s Old Blue Checkmark?

Spotify began replacing the old Verified Artist blue checkmark with a Registered Artist label in January 2026.

The old blue checkmark was primarily connected to artists claiming and managing their profiles through Spotify for Artists. Under the new system, artists who claim their profiles are identified as Registered Artists instead.

This change does not affect an artist’s royalties, visibility, discovery or access to Spotify for Artists.

What Is the New Green Spotify Checkmark?

In April 2026, Spotify introduced Verified by Spotify, represented by a light-green checkmark.

Unlike the previous blue checkmark, the new badge is designed to indicate that Spotify has reviewed an artist and determined that the profile meets its standards for authenticity and trust.

The badge can appear on an artist’s Spotify profile and next to their name in Search.

In simple terms:

Registered Artist = The artist has claimed and manages their profile through Spotify for Artists.

Verified by Spotify ✓ = Spotify has reviewed the artist and determined that the profile meets its verification standards.

What Are the Requirements for Spotify’s New Verification?

Getting the new green checkmark is not simply about claiming your Spotify for Artists profile.

Spotify currently lists several factors it considers when determining eligibility.

1. At Least 10,000 Monthly Active Listeners

Artists should have at least 10,000 Monthly Active Listeners for three consecutive months.

It is important to note that Spotify specifically says Monthly Active Listeners, not regular Monthly Listeners.

Monthly Active Listeners are people who intentionally stream an artist’s music from active sources, such as the artist’s profile, release pages, their own library or personal playlists.

2. At Least 1,000 Spotify Followers

Artists should also have at least 1,000 followers on Spotify.

Together with sustained Monthly Active Listeners, this helps Spotify identify artists with an established and engaged audience.

3. The Artist Must Be in Good Standing

Spotify also considers whether the artist and their content are in good standing with its platform policies.

Spam, impersonation, deceptive activity or repeated violations of Spotify’s rules can affect eligibility.

4. Spotify Looks for Signs of Authenticity

Spotify reviews signals that help establish that the profile represents a real artist.

These can include linked social media accounts, concert dates and merchandise displayed on the Spotify profile, alongside other information about the artist’s presence and catalogue.

Spotify also says profiles that appear to primarily represent AI-generated or AI-persona artists are currently not eligible for the badge. Artists who use AI responsibly as part of their creative process, however, are not automatically excluded.

Does Meeting the Requirements Automatically Get You Verified?

No.

Having 10,000 Monthly Active Listeners for three consecutive months and 1,000 followers does not automatically give an artist the green checkmark.

These numbers form part of Spotify’s eligibility criteria, but Spotify still reviews profiles to determine whether they meet its wider standards for authenticity and trust.

Spotify also notes that it may consider artists who have made significant contributions to music culture or are building meaningful cultural momentum even if they have not yet reached the stated audience thresholds.

How Do Artists Apply for the Green Checkmark?

Currently, artists do not need to submit an application for Verified by Spotify.

Spotify reviews eligible artist profiles on an ongoing basis. Once an artist has been reviewed and approved, Spotify says they will receive a notification through Spotify for Artists, and the verification badge will appear on their profile and in Search.

This also means that an artist who meets the requirements but does not yet have the green checkmark may simply be waiting for their profile to be reviewed.

Registered Artist vs. Verified by Spotify

The difference is straightforward:

What Should Artists Do?

For artists working towards the new verification badge, the focus should be on building a genuine and engaged audience rather than simply chasing streams.

Grow your Monthly Active Listeners and Spotify followers, keep your artist profile updated, connect your official social accounts and add relevant information such as upcoming concerts or merchandise when available.

Most importantly, maintain genuine activity and follow Spotify’s platform policies.

Meeting the numbers can make you eligible, but Spotify ultimately decides which profiles receive the Verified by Spotify badge after review.

Spotify artist verification now means something different.

Claiming your Spotify for Artists profile makes you a Registered Artist, while the new green Verified by Spotify checkmark represents an additional level of verification based on audience activity, authenticity and compliance with Spotify’s standards.

For artists and their teams, the key thing to remember is simple:

The old blue checkmark showed that your artist profile was claimed. The new green checkmark shows that Spotify has reviewed and verified the artist behind the profile.

Written by: GENERAL ZAGA