Spotify now has two badges: the old blue check became "Registered Artist", and a new green "Verified by Spotify" badge is awarded by the platform itself. Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon and Deezer each have their own claim flow — all of them free. Here is what to do after your first release.
The rule: release first, verify second
No platform verifies an empty profile. Your artist page is created automatically when a distributor delivers your first release; only then can you claim it and prove you are that artist. So the order is always the same: release through distribution, wait for the track to appear, then claim.
Spotify: Registered Artist and Verified by Spotify
What changed in 2026
In January 2026 Spotify renamed the old blue Verified Artist check to Registered Artist and moved it into the About section. It is still granted to anyone who claims their profile in Spotify for Artists. On April 30, 2026 Spotify launched a separate green Verified by Spotify badge, awarded automatically to signal a real human artist and separate them from AI-generated profiles.
How to claim your profile
- Go to artists.spotify.com, click "Claim your profile" and find yourself by the link to your release.
- Verify through your distributor — many dashboards have a "Verify on Spotify" button, and access arrives within minutes to a day — or through your social accounts, which takes one to three days.
- Once in, fill in the bio, photos and links, and turn on playlist pitching.
How to get the green badge
There is no application. Spotify reviews profiles on an ongoing basis and looks for an identifiable presence on and off platform — linked socials, concert dates, merch, sustained listener engagement and no policy strikes. The badge appears on its own when a profile passes. Every paid "get verified" offer is a scam.
Apple Music for Artists
Apply at artists.apple.com with a link to your release on Apple Music. Review takes a few days; after that you get stats, an artist photo upload and control over your bio. Apple shows no separate checkmark — a claimed profile is the verification.
YouTube, Amazon and Deezer
- YouTube: the Official Artist Channel with the music-note badge is set up through your distributor, merging your channel with the auto-generated topic channel.
- Amazon Music for Artists: claim with a release link at artists.amazonmusic.com; stats and profile editing follow.
- Deezer for Creators (formerly Deezer Backstage): claim by release link, then manage bio, photos and see stats.
What verification gives you
- Statistics: countries, playlists, sources of streams.
- Editorial pitching and Canvas uploads — see Spotify Canvas: size and how to make one.
- Control over photo, bio and links — the profile stops looking empty.
- Protection against mix-ups: without a claim, someone else’s release under the same name can attach to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy verification?
No. Claiming a profile is free through your distributor or socials, and the green Verified by Spotify badge is awarded by Spotify without applications. Any paid offer is fraud.
How long does the Spotify claim take?
Minutes to a day through a distributor, one to three days through social accounts.
Do I need a minimum number of streams?
Not to claim a profile — one live track is enough. For the green badge Spotify looks at sustained activity but publishes no threshold.
Another artist has my name on Spotify. What now?
Settle the spelling with your distributor before the first release and ask for the release to be attached to a new profile. After release, profiles can be split or merged only via platform support.
Ready to release your track?
Single — $45, album — $135. We work with Zvonko Digital and deliver the release to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok and 150+ platforms. Sent in 1–2 days after all materials are provided.