Stay Ahead: February 2026 DSP & UGC Platform Updates

Each month, we round up the most important updates across DSPs and UGC platforms.

February’s edition highlights Spotify’s updated Marquee and Showcase standard pacing, Prompted Playlists expansion, YouTube’s new Masterclass and Foundry 2026 applications, TIDAL’s $1,000 Spotlight incentive, deeper TikTok and Apple Music integration, and new intelligence from SoundCloud’s 2026 report.

Read on to learn more.

Spotify: Marquee and Showcase Updates

Marquee and Showcase campaigns now run across their full campaign window by default instead of spending the budget as quickly as possible. Marquee runs approximately 10 days, and Showcase runs approximately 14 days. Budgets range from 100 to 10,000 USD.

This standard pacing is designed to sustain momentum and reach the most likely listeners throughout the full campaign period. In limited testing, Spotify reports a stronger and more reliable reach compared to accelerated delivery.

Accelerated pacing remains available for campaigns where faster delivery is preferred.

How to Make It Work for You

• Plan budgets around sustained exposure rather than short spikes.
• Review forecasting carefully before launch to align campaign goals with expected reach.

**More on Marquee and Showcase →**

Spotify: Prompted Playlists (Beta Expansion)

Spotify’s Prompted Playlists are rolling out in beta to Premium users in the US and UK. The feature allows listeners to generate playlists by typing a prompt in a dedicated space, making discovery more conversational and specific.

Users can customise the name and description, choose update frequency (daily or weekly), and decide whether playlists are public or private. Prompts can be built around listening history, trends, genres, artists, moods, or activities. These playlists update dynamically.

How to Make It Work for You

• Encourage fans to create and share prompts around a new single, album, tour, or specific vibe.
• Run fan challenges asking listeners to build the “perfect” prompt for your release.
• Use clear, scenario-driven language in playlist names and descriptions. People search for moods, activities, and moments, not just genres.
• Encourage public sharing so your music circulates within AI-driven playlists.

More on Spotify Prompted Playlists

YouTube: Artists Masterclass

YouTube is hosting a new YouTube for Artists Masterclass on March 18, focused on digital strategy, audience engagement, and monetisation.

Register here →

YouTube Music: Foundry Class of 2026

YouTube Music has opened applications for Foundry Class of 2026, its global artist development program supporting independent artists building their careers on YouTube.

Selected artists receive direct partner support from YouTube, funding toward channel and release development, and promotional opportunities across the platform.

Applications are open from February 25 to March 25 for activation between May and September. Foundry Rising continues as an earlier-stage pathway under the same umbrella.

How to Make It Work for You

• Identify new artists with strong YouTube engagement and priority upcoming releases.
• If you would like guidance on positioning or eligibility to give your application the best chance, speak with our label services team.

Apply here →

TIDAL: Spotlight Program

TIDAL has launched TIDAL Spotlight, a program that awards $1,000 USD to artists whose tracks uploaded via TIDAL Upload are selected for editorial playlists or in-app features.

There is no application process. Uploading an original track and making it public makes it eligible for review. Only editorial placements qualify, and each track can receive one award.

The program is available in select countries across North America and Europe.

How to Make It Work for You

• Keep track titles clean and final.
• Maintain up-to-date artist photos and profiles.
• Monitor editorial placements closely, as they now carry direct financial incentive.

**More on TIDAL Spotlight →**

TikTok: Play Full Song with Apple Music

TikTok is testing a new Play Full Song feature that lets Apple Music subscribers stream full tracks directly in TikTok. Streams are powered by Apple Music’s APIs and generate royalties like a standard Apple Music stream. The feature is currently being tested in select territories outside the US, UK, and Europe.

To strengthen your artist presence across both platforms:

Master TikTok Music Tools →

Optimise Your Apple Music Artist Profile →

SoundCloud: 2026 Music Intelligence Report

SoundCloud’s Report highlights emerging scenes and early engagement signals that often precede mainstream growth.

Listeners consume nearly twice as much new music as the broader industry, and tracks discovered via “Liked By” playlists are more than three times as likely to drive engagement. In 2025, UK underground rap streams rose nearly 300 percent, while electronic uploads made up over one-third of all tracks.

The findings reinforce SoundCloud’s role as a key platform for early discovery and underground momentum.

How to Make It Work for You

• Use SoundCloud as an early signal environment for A&R, identifying artists and scenes before they scale elsewhere.
• Monitor engagement behaviour such as reposts and “Liked By” discovery, not just stream counts.
• Track scene growth in specific territories to inform signing, collaborations, and marketing strategy.

**Read the full report →**

Stay Informed

February’s updates show how platforms are evolving across paid promotion, AI-driven playlisting, artist development funding, and early scene intelligence. From Marquee pacing changes to Foundry applications and TIDAL’s Spotlight incentive, opportunities are becoming more structured and more competitive.

We will continue highlighting the platform shifts that directly impact release strategy, discovery, and growth throughout 2026.