Short answer: Spotify no longer shows a blue verified checkmark on artist profiles. On 28 January 2026 it replaced the "Verified Artist" badge with a Registered Artist label, which appears in the About section of your profile. You get it the same way you got the old tick: by claiming your profile through Spotify for Artists. It's free, there's no follower minimum, and there's no separate application.
What changed, and why
Spotify said the word "verified" had come to suggest more than the badge was meant to show. Listeners read it as a sign of popularity or importance. All it ever meant was that the profile is claimed and managed by the artist or their team through Spotify for Artists. "Registered Artist" says exactly that.
Nothing else changed. The label doesn't affect how often your music is recommended, how you're paid, or which Spotify for Artists tools you can use.
How to get the Registered Artist label
- Have at least one release on Spotify through a distributor. On Grootin, link your Spotify page under Settings → DSP Claiming first so your music lands on the right profile.
- Go to artists.spotify.com, choose Artist or Manager, and find your profile.
- Add your official social links so Spotify can confirm it's you, and submit.
- Once your access is approved, the Registered Artist label appears on your profile automatically.
The full walkthrough, including how to claim before your first release, is in how to claim your Spotify artist profile.
Why it's still worth doing
The label itself won't get you more streams. Claiming the profile behind it is what matters, because it's the only way to:
- Pitch unreleased songs to Spotify's editors and get them into your followers' Release Radar (see playlist pitching).
- Control your page: photo, bio, Artist Pick, Canvas and Clips.
- See your data: who's listening, where, and how they found you.
A claimed, complete profile also looks more professional when someone lands on it from a Reel or a playlist, which helps turn a listener into a follower.
Why you might not have it yet
- You haven't claimed your profile at artists.spotify.com.
- Your release hasn't reached Spotify yet, so the profile doesn't exist. Wait until it's live.
- Your claim is still being reviewed. This usually takes a few days, and only one request can be open at a time.
- Someone else (a former manager or label) already claimed the profile. Ask them to invite you as an Admin.
Avoid "Spotify verification" services
Anyone selling Spotify verification is selling something you can do yourself for free in ten minutes. Some also ask for your Spotify for Artists login, which gives them control of your profile. Don't share it.
New to releasing? Start with our Spotify release guide.