X

Spotify launches feature to help artists affected by COVID-19 raise funds

They can spotlight their own fundraiser, or an organization participating in the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Abrar Al-Heeti
spotify-logo-3

Spotify launched a new fundraising feature for artists. 

Angela Lang/CNET

Spotify on Wednesday said it's rolling out a new feature that lets artists highlight a fundraising campaign on their profiles. Similar to how they can choose music to highlight as an Artist's Pick, they can now also use the Artist Fundraising Pick to feature campaigns raising money to support themselves, their bands or their crews amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They can choose to add a link to Cash App, GoFundMe or PayPal.me.

Artists can also fundraise for an initiative geared toward helping people in the music industry most impacted by the pandemic. They can choose from a list of verified organizations that are participating in the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project.

"This is an incredibly difficult time for many Spotify users and people around the world -- and there are many worthy causes to support at this time," Spotify said in a release. "With this feature, we simply hope to enable those who have the interest and means to support artists in this time of great need, and to create another opportunity for our COVID-19 Music Relief partners to find the financial support they need to continue working in music and lift our industry."

Spotify said it's working "as quickly as we can" to develop and roll out the new product to as many artists as possible. "We consider this a first version that will evolve as we learn how to make it as helpful as possible for the music community," the company added.  

Watch this: Spotify is still the biggest streaming-music service