How to Pitch Your Song to Spotify Playlists

Playlists can introduce your song to new listeners, but the system is often misunderstood. Knowing how pitching works, and how scams work, can save you money and disappointment.

Three kinds of playlists

Editorial: curated by Spotify staff.
Algorithmic: personalised for each listener, such as Release Radar and Discover Weekly.
Independent: created by users, brands, blogs and curators.

How to pitch to Spotify editors

Claim your Spotify for Artists profile.
Distribute your song before the release date.
Find your upcoming song in the dashboard.
Fill in the details on genre, mood, instruments and language.
Write your pitch and submit at least seven days before release.

You can only pitch an unreleased song. Editors receive many submissions, and being selected is never guaranteed.

How to write the pitch

Keep it factual and specific. Include the following:

What the song is about, in a sentence or two.
Why it matters, or the story behind it.
Your plans, such as a music video, show or campaign.
Any real momentum, such as a growing audience in a city.

Example of a good pitch

"A Hindi-English indie pop song about moving to Bengaluru for a first job, featuring acoustic guitar and soft electronic drums. The release comes with a video filmed on local trains, and a campaign on Reels targeting students in Delhi and Bengaluru."

Finding independent curators

Search for playlists in your genre, then look at who created them. Many list a contact on their profile or website. Before messaging, check that the playlist has real listeners, not just big follower numbers. Check whether the songs fit your style, and whether the playlist appears active.

How to message a curator

Keep your note short and friendly. Mention the playlist name and why your song fits. Add one link and thank them, whatever they decide. Do not send repeated messages.

How to spot a scam

Guaranteed streams or guaranteed playlist placements.
Very cheap offers of thousands of plays.
Playlists with unrelated songs and no clear theme.
Sudden streams from countries you have no links to.

Artificial streams can lead to penalties, withheld income or removal of your music. Check your statistics, and speak to your distributor if something looks unusual.

Helping the algorithm

Algorithmic playlists depend on listener behaviour. Share your song with people who may actually enjoy it. Saves, repeat plays and follows help show that the song connects with real people. Forcing friends to stream on loop gives no useful signal.

After you get added

Thank the curator and share the playlist. Follow your numbers for the next few weeks, and note which playlists bring saves as well as streams.

If you get no placement

Most songs are not selected, even good ones. Do not treat a playlist as your only plan. Build your audience with short videos, live shows and collaborations. A loyal group of listeners is worth much more than a few days on a large playlist.

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