Spotify is accepting personal artist video messages for Wrapped 2026 until November 6. All artists can submit; placement is not guaranteed. [1]

For an independent label, the useful question is what each artist can prepare well with the resources already available. Start by identifying the correct upload format, choosing a clear message, and assigning someone to complete the submission. A short roster checklist can prevent a willing artist from missing the opportunity simply because nobody owned the final step.

Two video formats require different preparation

A personal artist message should be a spoken greeting. Spotify's technical requirements specify a vertical MP4 or MOV with audio, at least 720 × 1280 pixels, lasting more than three seconds and less than 30. The submission instructions exclude music, explicit content, logos, text, and filters. Upload on desktop through Video & Visuals and the Wrapped banner, with a caption of up to 100 characters. [2]

Performance videos require eligibility for Spotify for Artists' video-upload beta. They use full-length landscape footage linked to a track. Spotify says they may appear in Wrapped playlists and remain on artist profiles afterward. [1]

That distinction should guide production: do not turn a thank-you message into a performance upload or assume that access to one submission route establishes eligibility for the other.

Write for a listener, not an industry panel

Our editorial recommendation is to choose one specific idea. Think about what someone who has actually listened to your music would appreciate hearing from you.

An emerging artist does not need to invent a dramatic success story. Finishing a first release, returning to recording, or finding the confidence to perform can provide an honest starting point. Use only experiences that are true, and connect them to the people listening.

Write a few lines in the language you normally use with your audience. Read them aloud before recording. If the delivery sounds like a press release, simplify it. Clear speech, a quiet room, and a direct address to the camera deserve more attention than an elaborate backdrop.

A low monthly count does not describe your entire history

Spotify defines monthly listeners as the people who listened during the preceding 28 days. Its broader total-audience measure covers two years, while monthly active listeners are the subset who intentionally played the music during the last 28 days. [3]

These are different measurements. An artist reviewing a quiet recent period should also examine their earlier activity before deciding that there is nobody to address. Those dashboard categories do not, however, establish which listeners will receive a Wrapped message.

Prepare the profile and document the handoff

Choose a sensible next listening destination for anyone who visits the artist page. Artist Pick can highlight a song, album, video, or playlist at the top of the profile. [4] Our recommendation is to select something that represents the artist's current direction and check the page from a listener's perspective.

For a small label, keep one working list with the artist name, person filming, person uploading, file location, and submission status. Review the exported video for sound, duration, and accidental background branding before uploading. Keep the final file and a record of the submission rather than relying on a verbal confirmation.

Allow time to correct a rejected file or a missed handoff. For the personal message, plan to finish before November 6. A modest, carefully completed fan message is a reasonable task; its value should not depend on an expectation of guaranteed exposure.

Sources

[1] Spotify for Artists — Get ready for 2026 Wrapped
https://artists.spotify.com/get-ready-for-wrapped

[2] Spotify — Submitting Your Artist Messages for 2026 Wrapped
https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/submitting-your-artist-messages-2026-wrapped/

[3] Spotify — Audience segments on Spotify
https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/audience-segments-on-spotify/

[4] Spotify — Managing your Artist Pick
https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/managing-your-artist-pick/

Information checked October 22, 2026.