How to Submit Your Song to Spotify Playlists: The Complete Guide for Independent Artists
For independent musicians, getting your music on Spotify playlists can be a game-changer. Playlist placements can introduce your songs to thousands of new listeners, boost your streaming numbers, and help you build a sustainable career in music. But how exactly do you submit your song to Spotify playlists? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Spotify playlist submissions, from preparation to execution.
Whether you're releasing your first single or you're a seasoned artist looking to expand your reach, understanding how to effectively pitch your music to playlist curators can significantly impact your success on the platform. Let's dive into the world of Spotify playlists and discover how you can get your music heard by a wider audience.
Why Spotify Playlists Matter for Independent Artists
Before we get into the submission process, let's understand why Spotify playlists are so valuable:
Exposure to new listeners: Playlists introduce your music to people who might never have discovered you otherwise.
Credibility boost: Being featured alongside established artists can enhance your professional image.
Streaming revenue: More streams mean more income, even if it's modest at first.
Algorithm advantages: Playlist placements can trigger Spotify's algorithm to recommend your music to similar listeners.
Growth of your follower base: Listeners who discover and enjoy your music through playlists may follow your profile for future releases.
With over 356 million active users and more than 4 billion playlists, Spotify offers unprecedented opportunities for independent artists to reach global audiences without major label backing.
Types of Spotify Playlists You Can Target
Not all Spotify playlists are created equal. Understanding the different types will help you target your submissions more effectively:
1. Editorial Playlists
These are official playlists created and maintained by Spotify's in-house team. Examples include "New Music Friday," "Indie Pop," and "RapCaviar." These playlists typically have the largest followings and can generate thousands of streams quickly.
2. Algorithmic Playlists
These are personalized playlists created by Spotify's algorithm based on user listening habits. Examples include "Discover Weekly," "Release Radar," and "Daily Mix." You can't directly submit to these, but getting on other playlists can increase your chances of appearing here.
3. Independent Curator Playlists
These are playlists created by individuals, blogs, brands, or other third parties. They range from small playlists with a few hundred followers to massive ones with hundreds of thousands. These are often more accessible for emerging artists.
4. User-Generated Playlists
Regular Spotify users create these playlists for personal use or to share with friends. While they typically have smaller followings, they can still be valuable, especially when created by influential individuals.
Preparing Your Music for Spotify Playlist Submission
Before you start submitting your music to playlists, make sure you've laid the proper groundwork:
Distribute Your Music to Spotify
This might seem obvious, but your music needs to be on Spotify before you can submit it to playlists. If you haven't already, you'll need to use a digital music distributor to get your music on the platform. Some popular options for independent artists include DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, and AWAL. Each has different pricing models and features, so research the best independent music distribution options to find the right fit for your needs.
Optimize Your Spotify Artist Profile
Before pitching to playlist curators, make sure your Spotify profile looks professional:
Upload a high-quality profile picture
Write an engaging bio that tells your story
Add your social media links
Include upcoming tour dates if applicable
Create and maintain your own playlists to showcase your musical taste
Having a complete, professional-looking profile signals to curators that you're serious about your music career. It's also essential to have a strong online presence beyond Spotify, including a professional musician website where fans and industry professionals can learn more about you.
Ensure Your Music Is Release-Ready
Before submission, make sure your track is:
Professionally mixed and mastered
Competitive in sound quality with similar artists in your genre
Tagged with the correct metadata (genre, mood, etc.)
Accompanied by compelling artwork
Remember, you're competing with thousands of other artists for limited playlist spots. Quality matters.
How to Submit Your Song to Spotify's Editorial Playlists
Spotify's editorial playlists are the most coveted placements, and fortunately, there's an official channel for submissions:
Using Spotify for Artists
Spotify for Artists is a free tool that gives you control over your artist profile and provides valuable data about your listeners. Here's how to submit your unreleased music for editorial playlist consideration:
Create a Spotify for Artists account: If you haven't already, claim your artist profile at artists.spotify.com.
Upload your music through your distributor: Make sure to schedule the release at least 7 days in advance (though 2-3 weeks is recommended).
Submit for playlist consideration: Once your distributor delivers the track to Spotify (but before it's released), you'll see an option to submit it for playlist consideration in your Spotify for Artists dashboard.
Fill out the submission form thoroughly: Provide detailed information about your track, including:
Primary language
Mood
Genre
Instruments featured
Whether it's a cover or original
Culture or location relevance
Any additional information that might help editors understand your music
This submission goes directly to Spotify's editorial team for consideration. While there's no guarantee of placement, this is your best shot at official Spotify playlists.
Best Practices for Editorial Submissions
Submit well in advance: Give editors time to review your music by submitting as soon as your release is loaded into Spotify's system.
Be specific and honest: Don't try to game the system by selecting genres or moods that don't match your music.
Keep it concise: In the additional information section, be clear and to the point about what makes your release special.
Don't resubmit: You only get one chance to submit each track, so make it count.
How to Find and Submit to Independent Curator Playlists
While editorial playlists offer the biggest potential audience, independent curator playlists are often more accessible and can still provide significant exposure. Here's how to find and approach these curators:
Research Relevant Playlists
Start by finding playlists that feature music similar to yours:
Search for artists similar to you: Look at what playlists feature artists in your genre with a similar sound and following.
Use Spotify's search function: Search for keywords related to your genre, mood, or style.
Explore playlist discovery tools: Websites like Chartmetric, Soundplate, and SubmitHub can help you find relevant playlists.
Check out playlist curators on social media: Many curators promote their playlists on Instagram, Twitter, or dedicated websites.
Create a spreadsheet to track potential playlists, including the playlist name, curator contact information, number of followers, and any submission requirements.
Finding Curator Contact Information
Once you've identified target playlists, you need to find out how to contact the curators:
Check the playlist description: Many curators include submission instructions or contact information here.
Look for linked social media accounts: Follow the curator's profile to their social media, where they might list contact details.
Search for the curator or playlist name online: They might have a website with submission guidelines.
Use playlist submission platforms: Services like SubmitHub, Playlist Push, and Soundplate connect artists with curators.
Crafting an Effective Playlist Submission
When reaching out to playlist curators, your approach matters. Here's how to create a submission that gets results:
Direct Email Submissions
If you're emailing curators directly:
Use a clear subject line: Include "Playlist Submission," your artist name, track title, and genre.
Personalize your message: Mention specific aspects of their playlist that you appreciate to show you've done your homework.
Keep it brief: Curators are busy people. Get to the point quickly.
Include essential information: Provide Spotify links to your track, release date, genre, similar artists, and any notable achievements.
Make it easy to listen: Don't make them download files or jump through hoops.
Be professional and courteous: Thank them for their time, regardless of the outcome.
Here's a template you can adapt:
Subject: Playlist Submission - [Artist Name] - "[Track Title]" - [Genre]
Hi [Curator Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I've been following your playlist [Playlist Name] for some time and particularly enjoyed your recent additions of [mention specific tracks/artists].
I'd like to submit my latest single "[Track Title]" for your consideration. It's a [brief description of your sound] track that fans of [similar artists] have been enjoying.
Spotify Link: [direct link to your track]
Release Date: [date]
Brief Background: [1-2 sentences about you as an artist or the story behind the track]
Thank you for taking the time to listen. I appreciate the work you do in curating such a quality playlist.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Website/Social Media]
Using Playlist Submission Platforms
Several platforms have emerged to streamline the submission process:
SubmitHub: Connect with playlist curators, blogs, and influencers. Some submissions are free, while "premium" submissions (which cost $1-3 each) guarantee feedback.
Playlist Push: A paid service that pitches your music to relevant curators in their network.
Daily Playlists: Submit your tracks to genre-specific playlists for free.
Soundplate: Offers both free and premium submission options to their network of playlists.
These platforms can save you time and provide access to curators who might otherwise be difficult to reach. However, they typically involve costs, so budget accordingly.
Building Relationships with Playlist Curators
Playlist submission isn't just a one-time transaction—it's about building ongoing relationships with curators:
Follow-Up Etiquette
Be patient: Wait at least 1-2 weeks before following up.
Keep follow-ups brief: A simple, polite reminder is sufficient.
Accept rejection gracefully: If a curator declines your submission, thank them for their time and consideration.
Don't spam: Multiple follow-ups can damage your reputation.
Nurturing Curator Relationships
Engage with their content: Follow their playlists and social media, and interact meaningfully.
Show appreciation: If they add your track, thank them and share their playlist with your followers.
Provide value: Share other artists you think they might like, not just your own music.
Keep them updated: When you have new releases that fit their playlists, reach out again (but not too frequently).
Leveraging Spotify's Algorithm to Your Advantage
While direct playlist submissions are important, Spotify's algorithm plays a huge role in music discovery. Here's how to work with it:
Understanding Algorithmic Playlists
Spotify creates personalized playlists for users based on their listening habits:
Release Radar: New releases from artists users follow or listen to regularly.
Discover Weekly: New discoveries based on listening patterns.
Daily Mix: Genre-based mixes of familiar and new tracks.
Radio: Automatically generated playlists based on a seed track, artist, or playlist.
You can't submit directly to these, but you can increase your chances of inclusion by:
Optimizing for Algorithmic Success
Encourage saves and follows: When listeners save your track or follow your profile, it signals to Spotify that your music is valuable.
Promote complete listens: The algorithm favors tracks that people listen to in full.
Build steady momentum: Consistent engagement is better than a brief spike followed by nothing.
Release music regularly: Active artists tend to get more algorithmic attention.
Create your own playlists: Include your tracks alongside similar artists to signal to the algorithm what company your music keeps.
Promoting Your Music Beyond Playlist Submissions
While playlist placement is valuable, it shouldn't be your only promotion strategy:
Complementary Promotion Strategies
Social media marketing: Build and engage with your audience on platforms where they spend time.
Email marketing: Maintain a newsletter to communicate directly with fans.
Music blogs and press: Seek coverage from publications that cover your genre.
Collaborate with other artists: Cross-pollinate fan bases through collaborations.
Live performances: Connect with fans in person and drive them to your streaming profiles.
Create content around your music: Music videos, behind-the-scenes content, and acoustic versions can drive engagement.
A holistic approach to promotion will yield better results than focusing solely on playlists.
Tracking Your Playlist Success
Once you start getting playlist placements, it's important to track your results:
Using Spotify for Artists Analytics
Spotify for Artists provides valuable data about your streams, including:
Which playlists are generating the most streams
Listener demographics and locations
How listeners discovered your music
Save-to-listener ratio
Follower growth
Regularly review these metrics to understand what's working and refine your strategy accordingly.
Third-Party Analytics Tools
For more advanced tracking, consider tools like:
Chartmetric: Tracks playlist adds and performance across multiple streaming platforms.
Soundcharts: Monitors playlists, social media, and radio play in one dashboard.
Songstats: Alerts you when your music is added to or removed from playlists.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting to Spotify Playlists
Learn from others' missteps to improve your chances of success:
Submitting to irrelevant playlists: Your death metal track won't fit in a lo-fi study playlist, no matter how good it is.
Generic, impersonal pitches: Mass emails that don't acknowledge the curator's specific playlist show a lack of effort.
Submitting unfinished or poor-quality music: First impressions matter—make sure your track is fully polished.
Ignoring submission guidelines: If a curator specifies a particular format or information, follow their instructions.
Being too pushy or demanding: Entitlement turns curators off immediately.
Giving up too quickly: Playlist building is a marathon, not a sprint.
Paying for guaranteed placements: Many services promising guaranteed placement use bot-generated playlists that won't help your career and may violate Spotify's terms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spotify Playlist Submissions
How much does it cost to submit to Spotify playlists?
Submitting to Spotify's editorial playlists through Spotify for Artists is free. Submissions to independent curators vary—some accept free submissions, while others charge fees (typically $1-20 per submission) or operate through paid platforms like SubmitHub or Playlist Push.
When should I submit my music to playlists?
For editorial playlists, submit through Spotify for Artists as soon as your distributor delivers your track to Spotify (at least 7 days before release, preferably 2-3 weeks). For independent curators, start pitching 2-4 weeks before release, though many will also consider tracks that are already released.
How many playlists should I submit to?
Quality over quantity is key. Focus on 20-30 highly relevant playlists rather than sending mass submissions to hundreds of marginally relevant ones.
Is it better to submit new or existing music?
New releases typically have better chances, especially with editorial playlists, but many independent curators will consider tracks regardless of release date if the music fits their playlist.
Should I use a playlist pitching service?
These services can save time and provide access to curators, but research them carefully. Look for transparent pricing, realistic promises, and positive reviews from other artists. Avoid services guaranteeing placements for flat fees, as these often use fake playlists.
Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Playlist Strategy
Getting your songs on Spotify playlists isn't a one-time effort but an ongoing part of your music career. The most successful independent artists view playlist pitching as one component of a comprehensive promotion strategy.
Remember these key takeaways:
Quality matters: Focus on creating the best music possible before worrying about playlists.
Research is essential: Target playlists that genuinely fit your music.
Relationships are valuable: Build connections with curators rather than treating them as services.
Patience pays off: Playlist success rarely happens overnight.
Diversify your approach: Don't put all your promotional eggs in the playlist basket.
By approaching Spotify playlist submissions strategically and persistently, you can gradually build your presence on the platform, reach new listeners, and grow your career as an independent artist.
Remember that your online presence extends beyond Spotify. Having a professional musician website and a solid music distribution strategy are equally important parts of building a sustainable music career.
Now that you're armed with this knowledge, it's time to prepare your music, research your target playlists, and start making those submissions. Your next playlist placement—and new fan—could be just one pitch away.