Spotify adds a new signal for listeners
Spotify is introducing a new “Verified by Spotify” badge to help listeners recognize real artists on the platform. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the streaming company said users would begin seeing green checkmarks on reviewed artist profiles in the coming weeks. Spotify said this new addition is part of a wider effort to give people more context about the music they find and listen to, including features such as SongDNA, expanded credits, About the Song, and AI credits.
See the new badge below:
Spotify is introducing a new “Verified by Spotify” green checkmark badge for artist profiles amid the rise of AI-generated artists. pic.twitter.com/DOxJ1aeQon
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 30, 2026
“We’re introducing a new Verified by Spotify badge, as well as additional details about artists’ activity (in beta) on Spotify. These updates build on recent song-level context features like SongDNA, expanded song credits, About the Song, and AI credits, all designed to give you more insight and transparency into the music and artists you’re discovering,” the company revealed in a statement.
Spotify reviews artists before giving the badge
Artists will need to meet Spotify’s standards for authenticity and trust before being given the “human” badge. The streaming company will look for identifiable artists who have activity both on and off the platform. For example, concert dates, merchandise, social media links, release history, and steady listener activity can all help support an artist’s profile. Spotify also said it will focus on artists who are searched for over time, not profiles that only receive a quick attention boost.
AI music creates new pressure for streaming platforms
The update comes as music services face a growing wave of AI-generated songs and AI-created artists. In March 2026, Deezer said it was receiving about 75,000 AI-generated song submissions each day, accounting for 44% of its daily uploads. In another case, Michael Smith pleaded guilty to using AI tracks and bots to earn more than $8 million in royalties in the United States. He is expected to be sentenced on July 29, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
“Although the songs and listeners were fake, the millions of dollars Smith stole was real. Millions of dollars in royalties that Smith diverted from real, deserving artists and rights holders. Smith’s brazen scheme is over, as he stands convicted of a federal crime for his AI-assisted fraud,” US Attorney Jay Clayton stated.
