Get on Spotify Playlists: A Modern Artist's Guide to get on spotify playlists

To get on Spotify playlists, your strategy needs to be a smart blend of pitching Spotify's editors, getting your music to catch fire on algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly, and building real relationships with independent curators.

The most effective way to do this? Start small. The goal is to land on niche, independent playlists first. These placements generate the listener data and momentum that get Spotify's powerful algorithms to notice you, which in turn can grab the attention of the official editors.

Why Playlists Are Your New Fanbase Engine

Trying to get your music heard these days can feel less like releasing an album and more like trying to stay afloat in a massive, churning ocean of new tracks. With a tsunami of new music hitting the platform every single day, a solid playlist strategy isn't just a nice-to-have promotional tool—it's become the primary engine for music discovery.

This guide isn't about simple tips. It’s a practical, step-by-step playbook designed to help you build a real, sustainable system for landing placements that actually move the needle. We’re talking about turning passive streams into dedicated fans. Forget hoping for a lucky break; it’s time to build a system that works for you.

The New Reality of Music Discovery

The sheer scale of Spotify is hard to wrap your head around. The platform has ballooned to roughly 600 million active users and an estimated 6 billion playlists. It's an enormous, but incredibly crowded, world for artists.

With anywhere from 100,000 to 153,000 new tracks uploaded daily—a staggering 600% increase from 2017—it's physically impossible for listeners to keep up without some help. This is exactly why industry analysis suggests that around 65% of all Spotify streams now come directly from playlists. They're no longer just a feature; they're the main way people find new music. You can dig deeper into the data on the modern playlist landscape here.

This shift completely changes how you need to approach promotion. The old model of driving fans to a new album has been flipped on its head. Now, it's all about the song.

• Attention is scattered: Listeners are exposed to more artists than ever, often through playlists based on a mood or activity, not by seeking out a specific artist.

• Discovery is passive: A huge amount of listening happens in the background, driven by what the algorithm serves up next.

• Momentum is data-driven: The real currency on Spotify is positive listener signals. Things like saves, shares, and adds to personal playlists are what fuel the algorithmic fire and get you wider exposure.

The secret to getting your music on algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly is often to get on human-curated playlists first. Think of every playlist add as a vote of confidence; each one signals to Spotify that your track is worth paying attention to.

How the Game Has Changed

The difference between the music world of just a few years ago and today is night and day. What worked back in 2017 is pretty much obsolete now. To successfully get on Spotify playlists in the current environment, you have to adapt.

Just look at how much things have shifted.

The Spotify Landscape Then and Now

This table really puts the change into perspective. We've moved from a manageable stream of new music to a daily firehose, and the way artists need to operate has changed right along with it.

Metric	2017 (Approx.)	Today (Approx.)	Key Takeaway for Artists
Daily Track Uploads	~20,000	100,000+	The competition is immense; high-quality production and a targeted pitch are non-negotiable.
Total Playlists	~2 Billion	~6 Billion	There are more opportunities, but they are spread across countless niche and micro-niche lists.
Primary Discovery Driver	Blogs & Social Media	Algorithmic & Curated Playlists	Your focus must shift from traditional PR to building a data footprint on Spotify itself.
Artist Strategy	Album-focused promotion	Single-focused, consistent releases	Frequent, high-quality singles create more opportunities to pitch and trigger algorithms.

The takeaway is clear: the ground rules have been rewritten. Simply making great music isn't enough anymore. You need a strategy that understands and works within this new, playlist-driven ecosystem.

Setting the Stage for Playlist Success

Before you even think about sending that first pitch email, know this: the battle for a playlist spot is often won or lost before you hit send. Think of your new release less like a single song and more like a complete, professional package. Every single element, from the mix itself to the data you attach to it, sends a strong signal to both Spotify’s algorithm and the human curators you're trying to win over.

Honestly, an unprofessional or incomplete presentation is the fastest way to get your pitch deleted on sight. Curators see it as a sign that you don't take your own music seriously, so why should they? Polishing every detail beforehand is non-negotiable if you want to get on Spotify playlists that can actually move the needle. This is the foundational work that separates artists who get noticed from those who just get lost in the noise.

The Non-Negotiable Pre-Release Checklist

Getting your assets in order isn't just about checking off boxes—it's about building credibility from the ground up. Before you upload that final master to your distributor, you have to make sure these core components are absolutely flawless. This is your first impression, and you only get one shot.

This isn’t optional; it's the baseline for any professional artist.

• Studio-Quality Master: Your track has to sound incredible. It's going to be sitting next to major-label hits on a playlist, so a half-baked bedroom master just isn't going to cut it. It needs to compete sonically.

• Compelling Artwork: Your cover art needs to be high-resolution (at least 3000x3000 pixels) and visually arresting. It should immediately communicate the vibe of the song and look just as good as a tiny thumbnail as it does full-screen.

• Flawless Metadata: This is the backstage pass for your music. If your metadata is wrong, you might not get paid correctly, and you make it way harder for anyone—algorithms or humans—to discover your track.

Your metadata is the digital DNA of your song. It tells Spotify who created it, who owns it, and who to pay. Getting this right isn't just good practice—it's essential for your career.

Mastering Your Metadata

It might seem like a tedious chore, but your metadata is one of the most powerful tools you have. This is the critical information that travels with your song file, ensuring everything gets tracked, credited, and paid out properly. Think of it as your song’s passport.

Your distributor will walk you through this during the upload process. Don't rush it. A few key pieces of data are absolutely vital to get right.

1. Songwriter and Publisher Information: List every single person who contributed to writing the song, along with their publishing info. This is how royalty collection agencies like ASCAP, BMI, or your country's equivalent know who to pay.

2. Accurate ISRC and ISWC Codes: Your ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is the unique fingerprint for your specific recording (the master). The ISWC identifies the underlying musical work (the composition). These codes are how organizations track plays and pay royalties, so they have to be correct.

3. Genre and Mood Tags: Be specific and, most importantly, be honest. Tagging your indie-folk song as "Trap" to try and game the system is a rookie move that will only backfire. These tags are crucial for helping Spotify’s algorithm understand your music and serve it up to the right listeners.

Optimizing Your Spotify for Artists Profile

Once your track is uploaded and scheduled for release, your focus should shift to your public-facing profile. Your Spotify for Artists page is your digital storefront, and trust me, curators will check it before placing your song. An outdated, empty, or unprofessional-looking profile is a huge red flag.

You need to make sure your profile is a dynamic and engaging reflection of you as an artist.

• Update Your Bio: Write a compelling, current bio. Don't just list your accomplishments; tell a story that helps curators and potential fans connect with you.

• Upload Fresh Photos: Use high-quality, professional images for your header and artist profile picture. It immediately shows that you're an active and serious artist.

• Add Your Lyrics: Use a service like Musixmatch to sync your lyrics to the track. This seriously boosts engagement, as tons of listeners love to follow along.

• Pin an Artist Pick: This is prime real estate! Use the Artist Pick feature to highlight your new single, an upcoming tour date, or even a playlist you're featured on. It keeps your profile looking active and gives anyone who lands there a clear next step.

Nailing these steps signals to the entire Spotify ecosystem—from the editors to the algorithm—that you're a professional who's ready for the next level. This meticulous preparation is what sets you up for a successful campaign to get on Spotify playlists.

Understanding the Three Tiers of Spotify Playlists

If you want to get on Spotify playlists, you first have to understand the lay of the land. It’s not just one big pool of music; it's a layered system with three very different kinds of playlists. Your strategy for each one has to be unique. Nail this, and you’ll start building real, lasting momentum.

Think of it like a pyramid. At the very top, the peak, you have the highly sought-after Editorial playlists. In the middle, you have the powerful Algorithmic lists. And holding it all up is the massive base of Independent, user-curated playlists.

The Peak of the Pyramid: Editorial Playlists

Let’s be clear: these are the big leagues. Landing on an official Spotify-curated list like RapCaviar or Lorem can feel like winning the lottery. It's a career-defining moment that can put your music in front of millions of new listeners almost overnight. These are, without a doubt, the most powerful playlists on the platform.

So how do you get there? Your only direct shot is through the official pitching tool in your Spotify for Artists dashboard. You can only submit one unreleased track at a time, and you absolutely must do it at least a week or two before it drops. That pitch is your one chance to make a case directly to the editors.

Here's what I've seen work:

• Give them the story. Don't just say "it's an upbeat indie pop song." Tell them what the song is about. Who are you as an artist? Where did this track come from? Context is everything.

• Show them you're already moving. Editors are looking at data. They want to see that you're building a buzz on your own through pre-saves, social media engagement, and blog mentions.

• Look the part. Your pitch needs to be sharp and professional. That means a complete Spotify profile, high-res artwork, and spotless metadata. No cutting corners.

Let’s be real: getting an editorial placement is a long-term goal. Most artists who land on these playlists have already built a serious groundswell of support from the other two tiers. It's the final piece of the puzzle, not the starting point.

The Engine Room: Algorithmic Playlists

This is where the real machinery of Spotify discovery happens. Algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and your daily Mixes are personalized for every single user on the platform. These aren't put together by a person in an office; they're generated by Spotify's incredibly smart recommendation engine.

The key thing to remember is that the algorithm isn't magic. It's triggered by real human behavior. Every time someone saves your song, adds it to their personal playlist, shares it, or even just listens to it all the way through, they're sending a positive signal to Spotify.

Modern listening habits actually give you an edge here. Data from MIDiA Research shows the average user listens to a staggering 1,488 different artists in a year, and their top artist only accounts for 4.2% of their total listening. People are hungry for new music, and these playlists are designed to feed that hunger, driving billions of streams every month.

Your most direct target here is Release Radar. To even be in the running, you have to submit your song via Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release. Do that one simple thing, and your new track will automatically land on the Release Radar playlists of everyone who follows you. It’s a no-brainer.

The Foundation: Independent Playlists

This is where you roll up your sleeves and get to work. Independent playlists are the thousands upon thousands of lists created by real people—music bloggers, industry tastemakers, and passionate fans who just love finding and sharing new music. This is the base of the pyramid, and for new artists, it's the most important tier of all.

Think of these playlists as your proving ground. Getting placements on quality, well-maintained independent lists is how you generate those initial data points—the saves, the shares, the adds—that tell the algorithm your song is worth paying attention to. It’s the spark that gets the fire going.

Why You Can't Skip This Step

Aspect	Editorial Playlists	Independent Playlists
Accessibility	Extremely tough. You pitch to a small, overworked team.	Wide open. You can reach out to countless curators directly.
Impact	Huge, immediate splash.	A slow burn that builds momentum over time.
Your Strategy	The endgame. Aim for this after you have serious buzz.	The starting line. This is how you generate that initial buzz.

Your main focus in the beginning should be securing placements on dozens of relevant, niche-specific independent playlists. Each one acts like a vote of confidence, signaling to Spotify that your music is resonating. This collective activity is what wakes up the algorithm and, eventually, might just get your music in front of a real-life editor.

Your Game Plan for Curator Outreach

Alright, now that you've got the lay of the land with the different playlist tiers, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on the most important part: independent curators. This is where you have the most direct control, and building a solid outreach system is the single best way to start getting your music on playlists that actually move the needle.

This isn't about spamming a thousand random email addresses and hoping for the best. That's a surefire way to waste your time and annoy people. Instead, we're going to build a repeatable process for finding the right people, saying the right things, and building genuine connections that can benefit your music for years to come.

Think of it as a ladder. You start with smaller, independent playlists, which helps you get noticed by Spotify's algorithms. Once the algorithms pick you up, you're on the radar of the official editorial teams.

As you can see, those independent curators are the foundation of everything. Nail your outreach to them, and the rest starts to fall into place.

Hunting Down the Right Playlists

First things first, you have to become a bit of a detective. Your goal is to find playlists where your music would genuinely fit, not just where you wish it would. Pitching your heavy metal track to a "Lo-fi Beats to Study To" playlist is an instant delete. Relevance is everything.

A great way to start is by looking at artists who sound like you—your sonic peers. Head over to their Spotify profiles and check out the "Discovered On" section. This is an absolute goldmine for finding playlists that already feature your kind of sound. Spend some time listening to these lists to really get a feel for the curator's vibe.

Here are a few tactics I use to build a solid target list:

• Smart Keyword Searches: Use Spotify's search bar with descriptive genre and mood keywords. Think like a listener. Try things like "Indie Surf Rock," "Late Night Drive," or "Underground House."

• The "Fans Also Like" Rabbit Hole: This section on any artist's page is your best friend. It helps you find more artists in your niche, and in turn, the playlists they're getting on.

• Leverage Third-Party Tools: There are plenty of platforms and websites out there designed to help you filter and search for playlists, which can really speed up the discovery process.

Vetting Curators and Spotting Fakes

Listen up, because this part is crucial. Not all playlists are created equal. The internet is littered with playlists run by bots or scammers, and getting on one can do more harm than good. Distributors like DistroKid are cracking down on fake streams, and getting caught up in that mess can get your music taken down.

You need to learn how to spot a bogus playlist. Be very skeptical if you see these red flags:

• Generic Names & Art: Vague titles like "Top Hits 2024" paired with a stock photo cover are a dead giveaway.

• Weird Follower-to-Stream Ratio: A list with 50,000 followers but songs that barely break 1,000 plays is almost certainly fake.

• No Social Footprint: Real curators are passionate music fans. They usually have an Instagram, a blog, or some kind of online presence. If they’re a ghost, proceed with caution.

Key Takeaway: If a curator asks you for money for a placement, run. It's a direct violation of Spotify's rules. Real curators share music because they love it, not to make a quick buck.

How to Pitch Without Sounding Like a Robot

When you finally reach out, remember that you're talking to a real person who probably gets hundreds of emails just like yours every single week. A generic, copy-pasted message is going straight to the trash. While your focus is on music, the general principles of effective outreach still apply.

Your pitch needs to be personal, short, and to the point.

1. Nail the Subject Line: Make it easy for them to see what you're sending. A simple "Submission: [Your Artist Name] - [Your Song Title]" works great. Adding a "sounds like" comparison can also help (e.g., "Sounds like Phoebe Bridgers").

2. Show You've Done Your Homework: Start by mentioning their playlist by name. A little personalization goes a long way. "Hey [Name], I'm a big fan of your 'Sad Indie Daze' playlist—your recent add of the new Big Thief track was perfect."

3. Keep It Brief: Introduce yourself and the track in one or two sentences. Provide a private streaming link (SoundCloud is ideal). Never, ever attach an MP3 file.

4. Make It Easy: End with a simple, polite sign-off. "Thanks for your time and for considering the track. Hope you dig it!"

Choosing Your Playlist Pitching Method

There are a few ways to manage your outreach, from manual spreadsheets to dedicated platforms. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons to help you decide what's best for your release.

Method	Pros	Cons	Best For
Manual Spreadsheet	Free, total control over your list, helps you build genuine relationships.	Time-consuming, requires a lot of manual research and data entry.	Artists on a budget who want to build a high-quality, targeted list.
Submission Platforms	Speeds up the process, provides access to a large database of curators.	Can be expensive, may lead to less personal pitches, quality of playlists varies.	Artists who have a budget and want to pitch to a high volume of playlists quickly.
PR/Playlist Plugger	Experts handle everything for you, leveraging their existing relationships.	Very expensive, results are not guaranteed, risk of hiring a scammer.	Established artists with a significant marketing budget.

Ultimately, whether you're using a spreadsheet or a dedicated tool like SubmitLink, the key is to have a system. For artists just starting out, building your own targeted list in a spreadsheet is often the most effective and authentic approach.

If you’re looking for places to start, our guide on free Spotify playlist submission is a great resource for finding curators who are actively looking for new music. The most important thing is to be consistent, professional, and genuine.

Turning Placements into Career Momentum

Getting your song on a playlist is a fantastic feeling, but it’s not the finish line. Think of it as the starting pistol for the next phase of your release. What you do in the hours and days after a placement is what separates a fleeting boost from real, long-term growth. The goal isn't just to rack up streams; it's to turn those new listeners into actual fans who will show up for your next song.

This is where you switch gears from pitching to nurturing. That initial flood of data from a playlist is powerful, but your actions afterwards are what keep the energy going. When you actively engage with the placement, you’re not just showing gratitude—you're signaling to Spotify’s algorithm that this is a track worth paying more attention to.

Analyze Your Data in Spotify for Artists

Your Spotify for Artists dashboard is your mission control center. This is where you go beyond the vanity metrics and dig into the data that actually moves the needle. Don't just obsess over the total stream count; find out who is listening and how they're listening.

Keep a close eye on these key metrics for every playlist your song lands on:

• Listener Demographics: Are you suddenly big in Brazil? Is your audience older or younger than you assumed? This is pure gold for planning future marketing campaigns or even a tour route.

• Save Rate: This might be the most important number on the whole dashboard. It's the percentage of people who hear your track and immediately save it to their library. A high save rate is a massive thumbs-up to the algorithm.

• Source of Streams: Your dashboard shows you exactly which playlists are pushing the most listeners your way. This helps you see which curators are your biggest champions and where your sound is connecting the most.

This kind of analysis shows you what’s really working. If a small, niche playlist is giving you a 30% save rate while a much bigger one is only pulling 2%, you know that smaller curator has a deeply engaged audience. That’s a relationship worth its weight in gold.

Master Post-Placement Etiquette

The second you get that "you've been added" notification, the clock starts. Good post-placement etiquette isn't just about being polite; it’s a strategy for building lasting relationships and squeezing every drop of value out of the placement.

First things first: thank the curator personally. Hunt down their email or social media and send a short, genuine thank-you. It’s a small gesture that makes you memorable and opens the door for the future. They just put your music in front of their audience—the least you can do is show some real appreciation.

Next, it's time to tell your own fans.

Don't just announce the placement—actively promote the playlist itself. When you drive your followers to the curator's playlist, you create a two-way street. You get exposure to their audience, and they get more engagement on their list. It’s a true win-win.

Fire up an Instagram Story and tag the curator. Share the playlist link across all your socials and tell your fans to go check it out and give it a follow. This cross-promotion proves you're a real partner, not just another artist with their hand out.

Building Relationships for the Long Haul

The most successful artists I know understand this: the real prize isn't a single placement, but a network of advocates. The curator who added your track today could be the first person to support your next five singles, but only if you play your cards right. You have to shift your mindset from being transactional to being relational.

Stay in touch with the curators who champion your music. Follow them on social media, actually engage with their posts, and share other playlists they build that you genuinely like. When it’s time for your next release, you won't be sending a cold pitch to a stranger. You’ll be reaching out to a real contact, someone who is far more likely to press play and support you again.

This long-game strategy of turning one-off placements into a powerful network is the absolute core of sustainable growth. To explore more proven strategies, you can learn how to increase Spotify streams with a playbook for growth, which builds on these very principles. This network becomes your foundation, helping you land placements more consistently with every new release.

Your Spotify Playlisting Questions, Answered

Let's be honest, diving into the world of Spotify playlisting can feel like navigating a maze. There's so much advice floating around, and it's tough to know what's real and what's just noise. This is where artists often get stuck.

I get it. You've poured everything into your music, and now you need to get it heard. Let's cut through the confusion and tackle the questions that come up time and time again.

What's a Realistic Budget for a Playlist Campaign?

This is the million-dollar question, but the answer isn't a single number. Your budget really just depends on your goals and how much you can invest right now.

If you're just starting out, you can run a highly effective campaign for $0. Seriously. A DIY email outreach strategy costs nothing but your time. It’s a grind, for sure, but it forces you to find curators you genuinely connect with and build real relationships from the ground up—an invaluable skill.

Once you’re ready to scale up, using submission platforms gives you more leverage. Many have free submission options, but for paid, premium submissions, you're typically looking at $2 to $5 each. A focused budget of $100 to $400 on a trusted platform can get your track in front of dozens of quality curators, giving you a real shot at meaningful placements.

The real metric isn't what you spend, but what you get back. A $5 placement on a killer playlist that racks up thousands of real streams and triggers Spotify's algorithm is a massive win. It’s infinitely better than a cheap spot on a bot-infested list that could get your music taken down.

Spend smart. Focus your resources on platforms and curators who connect you with actual, engaged listeners, not just inflated numbers.

How Do I Spot a Fake Playlist and Avoid Scams?

This isn't just a helpful tip; it's a survival skill. Getting your music on a bot-farm playlist can be catastrophic. Artificial streams can trigger penalties from distributors like DistroKid, and in the worst cases, they can get your entire catalog pulled from Spotify.

Keep your guard up and watch for these red flags:

• Vague names and generic artwork on playlists with suspiciously high follower counts.

• A massive gap between followers and streams. A list with 50,000 followers where songs struggle to break 1,000 plays is a huge warning sign.

• The curator is a ghost. A real playlist owner is passionate about music and usually has some kind of social media presence or footprint.

• You look at the playlist and every single song has a strangely similar, low play count.

The best defense is a good offense. Stick to platforms that take vetting seriously and use bot detection to protect artists. For a much deeper look into this, check out our complete guide on how to detect fake Spotify playlists and avoid scams. Protecting your music is just as critical as promoting it.

What if I Pitch My Song and Get No Placements?

First off, don't panic. Rejection is baked into this process. Every artist deals with it. Instead of seeing it as a failure, look at it as market feedback—data you can use to sharpen your next release.

Start by being brutally honest with yourself about the track. Is the production and mixing truly on par with other songs on your target playlists? Does it fit a specific mood or genre, or is it a little all over the place? Sometimes, a song just isn't the right key for that particular lock.

Then, dissect your outreach strategy.

• Did you personalize your pitch? Or did it read like a generic, copy-pasted email blast? Curators can spot that a mile away. You need to show you’ve actually listened to their playlist.

• Was your targeting on point? Was your indie-folk song really a fit for that "Lofi Chillhop Beats" list? Mismatched targeting is the number one reason for rejection.

• How was your timing? You might have a great track, but the curator’s queue could be full, or they just weren't in the right headspace for your sound at that moment.

It’s almost never personal. Tweak the track, refine your pitch, and be more strategic with your targeting. Every campaign teaches you something that makes the next one stronger.

---

Ready to connect with real, vetted curators and skip the bots? At SubmitLink, we give you the tools to get your music in front of the right people. Our bot detection is trusted by industry leaders, and our network of 600+ active curators is ready to discover their next favorite track. Build your audience the right way. Start your campaign today at https://submitlink.io.