In Case You Haven't Heard…

Spotify is giving $50,000 in grants to authors of unpublished stories featuring ‘exceptional’ depictions of mental health, Variety reported Feb. 12. The company is partnering with The Black List, a platform for filmmakers and writers to showcase projects to industry professionals, and The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping prevent suicide for teens and young adults, to launch the Spotify x JED Impact Award. The impact award will provide $10,000 grants to five authors of unpublished manuscripts that feature “exceptional depictions” of mental health in fiction, with the goal of diversifying mental health narratives in fiction, the company says. As part of the initiative, Spotify will cover fee waivers to allow up to 140 writers to receive a free month of hosting and a free evaluation on The Black List platform. Submissions are open beginning Feb. 12 on The Black List's website at this link (available for English‐language manuscripts globally) and will close July 8, 2025.