Spotify’s ‘Radar’ Emerging Artist Program Crosses 1,000 Acts Since Starting Five Years Ago

Spotify’s RADAR program first launched in 2020 and now five years later, it has surpassed the milestone of 1,000 supported emerging artists.

Since its inception, the emerging artists’ program has seen RADAR artists generate more than 338 billion streams across all markets. Collectively, these artists have sparked over 6.5 billion discoveries by listeners, highlighting the program’s role as a catalyst for music exploration. RADAR tracks have been added to 1.5 million Spotify editorial playlists worldwide and appear on more than 1.1 billion user-generated playlists globally.

As of 2025, the RADAR program is active in all 183 countries where Spotify operates, making the platform’s support for emerging artists truly global. Spotify has also highlighted how the RADAR program’s support extends beyond streaming. It includes editorial features, exclusive content, and personalized marketing initiatives that are tailored for each region.

For instance, after joining the RADAR program in May 2023, Peso Pluma saw a 55% jump in monthly listeners within a month and now holds the top spot as the most-streamed RADAR artist. K-pop group aespa joined RADAR Korea in November 2020; within one month, their monthly listeners jumped by 1,433% with export streams up 2,389% and editorial streams up an unprecedented 14,132%. The group now has over 10 million monthly listeners on the platform.

Other notable RADAR alumni include indie-pop artist Rachel Chinouriri, whose streams climbed 155% and whose monthly listeners rose from 1.4 million to 4.3 million after joining RADAR UK & Ireland. In her first year, she recorded two Spotify Singles, picked up two BRIT Award nominations, and sold out headline shows in major US cities.

Australian rock band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers also benefited, seeing a 224% increase in monthly listeners and supporting Pearl Jam on tour after their RADAR experience. The band stated, “Being a RADAR artist brought us to so many new audiences. We’ve been able to go to America, go overseas, and seeing our faces on playlist covers is crazy—really incredible.”

RADAR’s initiatives now encompasses not just performing artists but songwriters as well. Since 2022, Spotify has run RADAR campaigns for emerging songwriters in a dozen markets, offering playlist support and exclusive content to help creators connect with broader audiences. Notable songwriter alumni in the program include Ines Dunn, Alessandro La Cava, Mbyro, and Bill Maybury, plus LA-based producer uv killin em.