How to Get Your Music on Spotify Playlists in 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide for Independent Artists
Releasing your own music as an independent artist can be both exciting and challenging. One of the most powerful ways to gain exposure and build your fanbase is by landing your music on Spotify playlists. Playlists have become one of the main ways listeners discover new music, and getting placed on a popular playlist can significantly boost your streams and audience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to get your music on Spotify playlists as part of our series on "How to release your own music in 2024“.
1. Types of Spotify Playlists
When releasing your own music, it’s essential to understand the different types of playlists on Spotify. There are three main categories:
Editorial Playlists: These are curated by Spotify’s in-house editorial team, like New Music Friday or RapCaviar. Landing on an editorial playlist is a huge achievement, but it requires careful preparation and strategy.
Algorithmic Playlists: Playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar are generated by Spotify’s algorithm, which analyzes listener behavior and preferences. The more engagement your track receives, the more likely it is to land on these playlists.
User-Generated Playlists: Created by Spotify users, influencers, and brands, these playlists can also have a massive impact on your streams. Although they might not have the same prestige as editorial playlists, many user-generated playlists have large followings.
2. How to Submit to Editorial Playlists
Getting your track onto an editorial playlist should be part of your overall music release strategy. Here’s how to increase your chances:
Claim Your Spotify for Artists Profile: Before you release your music, make sure to claim your Spotify for Artists profile. This platform allows you to manage your presence on Spotify, view your stats, and most importantly, submit your unreleased music for editorial playlists.
Write a strong pitch text: When the moment is there to submit your track you have to make sure that you have a strong pitch to include for the editors to read. The text is limited to 500 characters so you have to squeeze as many highlights as possible into this small space. Make sure to highlight any pre-release succes, like amount of pre-saves, viral moments on socials, shows you played where you debuted the song. Or go into whether it’s a collaboration with another well known artist. Make sure it sells the story of why your track should be included in playlists. Try to stay away from mentioning the playlists you would like to get added to, as in general the editors don’t prefer this.
Submit Your Track Early: You can submit an unreleased track to editorial playlists directly through Spotify for Artists. However, timing is crucial. Make sure to submit your music at least 3 weeks before your release date to give Spotify’s editorial team enough time to review it.
Optimize Your Profile: Your artist profile should be complete, with professional photos, an updated bio, and links to your social media. Spotify’s editors look at more than just your music—they also consider how you present yourself as an artist.
3. Algorithmic Playlists: How to Get on Them
Spotify’s algorithmic playlists can play a huge role in exposing your music to new audiences. Here’s how to make the most of these opportunities:
Leverage Early Engagement: When you release your own music, encourage pre-saves and drive early engagement on release day. High engagement signals to Spotify’s algorithm that your track is worth featuring on playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly.
Build Your Followers: Your follower count and fan engagement are crucial factors. The more people follow you, the more likely you are to appear on their algorithmic playlists like Release Radar. Focus on growing your audience consistently, even when you're not releasing new music.
Consistency Matters: Regularly releasing new music keeps you on the radar of Spotify’s algorithm. The more active your artist profile is, the better your chances of landing on algorithmic playlists.
4. User-Generated Playlists: How to Pitch Directly
User-generated playlists offer a more direct route to getting your music heard. Here’s how to tap into this valuable resource:
Research Playlist Curators: Tools like Chartmetric and SpotOnTrack can help you identify user-generated playlists that are a good fit for your genre. Once you find playlists that align with your music, research the curators behind them.
Reach Out with a Personal Touch: When contacting curators, be genuine and professional. Write a personalized message explaining why your track would be a great fit for their playlist. Be sure to include a link to your track and any relevant details.
Collaborate on Social Media: Many playlist curators are active on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Connect with them there, engage with their content, and build relationships before pitching your music.
Follow Submission Guidelines: Some curators have specific submission guidelines for playlists. Make sure to follow these carefully, as not adhering to them could hurt your chances.
5. Create Your Own Playlists
As an independent artist, creating your own playlists can be a powerful tool for gaining listeners:
Curate Playlists Around Themes: When creating your own playlists, focus on a specific theme or genre that resonates with your audience. Include your music alongside other artists to attract listeners to your playlist and, by extension, your own tracks.
Promote Your Playlists: Use your social media platforms to promote your playlists. You can even embed them on your website or share them in your email newsletter. The more traction your playlist gains, the more likely Spotify’s algorithm will take notice.
Collaborate with Other Artists: By featuring other independent artists on your playlist, you can create a sense of community. Encourage the artists you feature to share the playlist as well, expanding its reach.
6. General Tips for Increasing Your Playlist Success
To maximize your chances of getting on Spotify playlists, keep the following in mind:
High-Quality Music Production: Make sure your track is professionally produced, mixed, and mastered. Poor sound quality can hurt your chances of getting playlisted, even if the song itself is great.
Engage with Your Fanbase: Use social media to generate buzz around your release before it drops. Engaging with your fans consistently helps create a loyal following that will support your music on release day.
Collaborate with Other Artists: Featuring artists with their own following on your track can help increase your chances of playlist placement. Their fanbase could push your track onto user-generated and algorithmic playlists.
Don’t Rely on One Platform: While Spotify is essential, explore playlist pitching opportunities on other platforms like Apple Music, Deezer, and YouTube Music. Diversifying your reach ensures you're not reliant on one single platform for success.
Stay Persistent: It can take time to get your music on the right playlists, but don’t get discouraged. Consistency and perseverance are key when it comes to playlist success.
Conclusion
Getting your music on Spotify playlists is a crucial part of your release strategy as an independent artist. By targeting editorial, algorithmic, and user-generated playlists, you can significantly boost your streams and reach new listeners. Remember, releasing your own music is a journey, and with persistence, great music, and the right strategy, you can build momentum on Spotify and beyond.
For more tips on how to release your own music and promote it effectively, check out our other articles on music marketing and artist development. If you need personalized advice on playlist pitching or music promotion, contact us at Crate or sign up for our newsletter for ongoing support.
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