A single playlist placement can generate more streams than months of social media promotion. A placement on a major editorial playlist can be career-defining.
But the playlist landscape is complex, filled with scams, and poorly understood by most artists. Here's what actually works.
Understanding Playlist Types
Not all playlists are created equal:
Editorial playlists are curated by Spotify's in-house team. These are the major playlists like RapCaviar, Today's Top Hits, and genre-specific lists. Placement here is highly competitive and valuable.
Algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Radio are generated by Spotify's algorithms based on listener behavior. You don't pitch these — you earn them through engagement metrics.
User-curated playlists are created by Spotify users. Quality varies wildly. Some have real, engaged listeners. Many have inflated follower counts from bot follows.
Pitching Editorial Playlists
Spotify for Artists allows direct pitching to editorial playlists:
Timing. Submit at least 7 days before release. Editorial teams need time to review. 2-3 weeks is ideal.
The pitch matters. This is your one shot. Be specific about the song's story, mood, and why it fits specific playlists. Generic pitches are ignored.
Release strategy. Don't release your whole album at once. Singles allow multiple pitch opportunities.
Metadata accuracy. Genre, mood, and instrument tags help curators find appropriate submissions.
Triggering Algorithmic Playlists
Algorithmic placement comes from strong performance metrics:
Save rate is critical. Songs that get saved to libraries appear in Release Radar and get algorithmic recommendations.
Completion rate matters. Songs that get skipped early are penalized; songs played through fully get boosted.
Playlist adds by listeners signal to algorithms that the song deserves recommendation.
Repeat plays indicate quality. Songs that get replayed receive algorithmic preference.
User Playlist Strategy
Independent playlists can provide meaningful exposure:
Find relevant playlists. Search Spotify for playlists in your genre. Look at their followers, but also their engagement.
Check for legitimacy. Real playlists have followers from similar geographic distributions as the genre. Suspicious patterns (all followers from one unusual country) suggest fake followers.
Direct outreach. Many playlist curators accept submissions via email or social media. Personalized, professional outreach works.
Never pay for guaranteed placements. Legitimate curators don't sell placements. Paid guarantees are usually scam operations.
Avoiding Playlist Scams
The playlist promotion industry is rife with fraud:
Fake playlist scams add your song to playlists with artificial followers. No real listeners, wasted money, and potential Spotify penalty.
Bot stream services promise streams but deliver artificial plays. Spotify detects this and can remove your music entirely.
Guaranteed placement offers are almost always fraudulent. No legitimate curator guarantees specific playlists.
Red flags: Unrealistic promises, super-cheap pricing, inability to explain their method, guaranteed specific playlists.
Pre-Save Campaigns
Pre-saves boost release day metrics:
Create pre-save campaigns using tools like DistroKid, Feature.fm, or Show.co.
Promote pre-saves across social media in the weeks before release.
Pre-saves convert to Release Radar placements, giving you a launch boost.
The Long Game
Playlist success compounds over time:
Catalog matters. More songs means more algorithmic surface area. Each song is another chance to appear in recommendations.
Listener retention. Artists whose songs keep listeners on Spotify get preferential algorithmic treatment.
Consistency. Regular releases build algorithmic momentum. One release per year doesn't give algorithms enough data.
Working with Legitimate Promotion
Real playlist promotion services exist:
They work on relationships. They've built connections with curators over time through professional, consistent submissions.
They can't guarantee specific placements. They can promise to pitch to curators, not to secure placements.
They're transparent about methods. They explain exactly how they work and what to expect.
They have track records. They can show past campaigns and realistic results.
DIY Playlist Strategy
Artists can build their own playlist presence:
Create your own playlists. Curate playlists in your genre that include your music alongside songs with similar vibe.
Promote your playlists. Share them on social media. A popular playlist you control is valuable real estate.
Collaborate with other artists. Playlist swaps and collaborative playlists expand reach.
Playlist placement isn't a silver bullet — but as part of a comprehensive release strategy, it can significantly amplify your music's reach.