Stay Ahead: January 2026 DSP & UGC Platform Updates

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

January’s edition focuses on practical shifts in discovery and creator workflows. From Spotify’s artist badge update and profile optimisation reminder to Audiomack’s 50 million MAU milestone, Pandora’s AMP insights refresh, and new changes across Instagram Reels and TikTok discovery, platforms are refining how content is surfaced and how creators measure performance.

Read on to learn more. 🚀

Spotify: Artist Verification Badge Update

Spotify is rolling out a change to its artist verification badge. The familiar “Verified Artist” label is being replaced with Registered Artist, now shown in the About section of artist profiles.

Discovery, royalties, and access to Spotify for Artists tools remain exactly the same. But the update is a useful reminder of something more important: the artist profile remains one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on Spotify.

Millions of listeners land on artist profiles every day, and the majority interact with them. For new listeners, it is often the first place they decide whether to follow, save, or go deeper.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Treat the artist profile as a living asset, not a set-and-forget page
• Keep the bio, images, and links current to make a great first impression on new listeners
• Use Artist Pick to spotlight what matters most right now: a new release, Countdown Page, tour dates, merch, or video
• Make sure events and merch are correctly connected so fans can interact without leaving Spotify

→ More on Optimizing Your Artist Profile

Audiomack: Hits 50M MAUs, Expands Creator Toolkit

Audiomack has surpassed 50 million monthly active users, representing 31 % year-over-year growth. Nearly a third of those users joined within the past twelve months, signaling accelerating momentum across key global markets.

Audiomack’s growth has been driven by a strong focus on regional charts, human-powered curation, and markets where music culture is evolving quickly across Africa and other emerging territories.

Alongside this milestone, Audiomack continues to expand Audiomack Pro, its creator-focused toolkit. It includes deeper analytics, enhanced Boost promotion tools, interactive fan features like Connect and Audiomod, and fan-driven monetization through Supporters.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Claim and actively manage the artist profile so your catalog, images, and identity are fully under your control
• Monitor regional charts and play sources to understand how fans are finding your music
• Use Audiomack Pro analytics to identify releases or tracks gaining momentum outside your core markets
• Experiment with creator tools like Connect, Supporters, and private listening links to deepen fan engagement

→ More on Audiomack For Artists

Pandora: Refreshes AMP Catalog and Track Insights

Pandora has rolled out a significant update to Pandora AMP, improving how artists and labels explore catalog data and track performance.

The refreshed Catalog tab now includes visibility into pre-release content, allowing teams to review upcoming releases ahead of launch. Tracks are clearly separated from live content and displayed in a muted state until release day.

Pandora AMP also introduces better grouping, sorting, and filtering options, including track groups that bundle multiple versions of the same song, and enhanced track level stats with clearer milestone visibility.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Encourage your artists to claim their artist profile.
• Compare performance across track versions more easily
• Monitor milestones and long term performance trends

→ More on Pandora AMP

Instagram & Meta: Reels Get More Flexible, Discovery Still Favors Shorter Content

Instagram has expanded Reels creation tools, including better editing controls, improvements to the Edits app, and support for uploads up to 20 minutes. However, only Reels under three minutes remain eligible for algorithmic recommendation.

At the same time, users now have more control over what they see, while Meta continues to emphasize strong early hooks and clear creative signals as key drivers of reach.

The message is consistent: flexibility for storytelling is growing, but discovery still favors concise, intentional content.

One good example of this approach is CITIZEN The Artist, whose Reels focus on short, emotionally clear moments rather than trend-driven formats.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Use short Reels for discovery and longer formats for existing fans
• Keep visuals, captions, and music aligned to one clear identity
• Build repeatable formats instead of chasing weekly trends

→ More on Instagram Reels Discovery

TikTok: Shared Discovery and the 2026 Artist Playbook

TikTok has introduced new features designed to make discovery more social.

Shared Collections allow users to save and organize videos together, while Shared Feeds create a private, interest-based feed within direct messages that surfaces content both users are likely to enjoy.

TikTok has also released its 2026 Artist Playbook, outlining best practices for content planning and fan engagement, and announced an upcoming Valentine’s Hub, encouraging artists to post using #LoveSong or #ValentinesMusic starting on February 5th.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Think of TikTok discovery as something fans experience together
• Plan content around seasonal and hashtag-driven moments
• Align campaigns with guidance from the 2026 Artist Playbook

→ More on TikTok Shared Discovery

→ More on TikTok 2026 Artist Playbook

Stay Informed

This month’s updates are about execution: keeping artist profiles current, tracking where discovery is happening, using better performance insights, and adapting content formats to how platforms actually recommend and surface music.

We’ll keep this roundup focused on changes you can act on, as 2026 unfolds.