Playlist Pitching
How to get on Spotify playlists
There are three kinds of Spotify playlist, and they each work completely differently. Here’s how to approach all three, and how to avoid the botted ones that get your music penalised.
Editorial playlists
Curated by Spotify’s in-house editors
Pitch through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before your release date. One unreleased track at a time. Fill in genre, mood, and story so editors can place it. There’s no fee and no guarantee, even a great pitch may not land, but pitching also feeds Release Radar.
Algorithmic playlists
Personalised by Spotify’s algorithm (Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Radio, Autoplay)
You can’t pitch these, they’re earned by engagement signals: saves, playlist adds, repeat listens, and low skip rates. Early real momentum from fans and independent playlists is what tells the algorithm to push your track wider.
Independent / third-party curator playlists
Run by individuals, blogs, labels and brands, the huge pitchable long tail
This is the most reachable tier for independent artists. You find the curator’s contact (email, Instagram, submission form), send a short personal pitch with your track, and build a relationship. Quality varies wildly, vet before you pitch.
⚠ Avoid botted “guaranteed placement” playlists
If a service guarantees placement or promises huge stream counts, treat it as a red flag. Most run botted playlists, and Spotify actively strips artificial streams, it has removed hundreds of thousands of tracks for artificial streaming, and you can lose editorial consideration or have your streams wiped. A real pitch never guarantees a result. The tell: big follower numbers but little genuine “Discovered On” activity.
Where independent artists should start
Editorial placement is competitive and algorithmic reach is earned, not requested, so for most independent artists the fastest, most controllable route is the independent curator long tail. There are far more of these playlists than editorial ones, many accept direct pitches, and a good fit can add your track on the strength of the song alone.
The catch is quality. The same long tail that’s open to everyone is also where the botted and dead playlists hide. So the workflow that actually works is: find real curators → check each playlist’s quality → send a short, personal pitch, and let the early engagement from real placements feed Spotify’s algorithm.
Getting on Spotify playlists, FAQ
How do I get on Spotify editorial playlists?
Pitch your unreleased track through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before its release date, ideally 3 to 4 weeks. Submit one upcoming song at a time and fill in the genre, mood, instruments and story so Spotify's editors can place it. It is free, but there is no guarantee. Pitching also helps your track reach your followers' Release Radar even if no editor picks it.
Can you pay to get on algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly?
No. Discover Weekly, Release Radar and Radio are generated by Spotify's algorithm from engagement signals, saves, adds, repeat plays and skip rate, and cannot be pitched or bought. Anyone promising paid placement on them is selling something fake. The way in is real early momentum from fans and genuine playlist support.
How do I find independent Spotify playlist curators?
Look for playlists in your genre, then find the curator's contact, many list an email, Instagram or submission form. Send a short, personal pitch with your track and why it fits. This is the most reachable tier for independent artists, but quality varies enormously, so vet each playlist before pitching. PlaylistSupply surfaces verified curator contacts and checks each playlist's quality for you.
Are "guaranteed placement" playlist services safe?
Be very careful. Most services promising guaranteed placement or huge stream counts use botted playlists, and Spotify strips artificial streams and can penalise, or remove, your track. A legitimate pitch never guarantees placement. If a playlist has big follower numbers but little real "Discovered On" activity, treat it as a red flag.
How long before release should I pitch my song?
At least 7 days before release for the Spotify for Artists editorial pitch, that is the minimum the system enforces. Aiming for 3 to 4 weeks ahead gives editors more time and lets you line up independent curator pitches so early engagement starts the moment the track goes live.
Do I need a lot of followers to get on playlists?
Not for independent curator playlists, many add tracks purely on the strength of the song and how well it fits their playlist. Editorial and algorithmic reach do build faster once you have real engagement, but the independent curator tier is open to artists at any size, which is why it is the best place for new artists to start.
Related guides
What each platform really pays per stream, and why more real plays is the lever that moves your payout.
DistroKid vs TuneCore vs CD Baby vs Amuse, by pricing model, to get your release into the stores first.
The insider method for finding curator contacts and pitching independent playlists that convert.
How to vet a playlist for real listeners before you pitch, so you skip the botted ones.
Find real curators. Skip the bots.
PlaylistSupply surfaces verified independent curator contacts and checks every playlist’s quality before you pitch, so your music only goes to playlists that actually drive real streams.
Find playlist curators freeMusic is more than streams
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