How to Get on Spotify Playlists: Editorial, Algorithmic & User

Playlists are how most people discover new music on Spotify. A single playlist add can generate more streams than months of social media promotion. Artists have gone from unknown to charting after landing on the right playlist at the right time.

But here’s what most artists don’t understand: there are three completely different types of Spotify playlists, and each requires a different approach. Confusing them is one of the biggest mistakes indie musicians make.

This guide breaks down how to get on all three: editorial playlists (curated by Spotify), algorithmic playlists (generated by Spotify’s AI), and user-curated playlists (created by individuals and brands). Different strategies, same goal: more listeners discovering your music.

The 3 Types of Spotify Playlists

Before you submit to anything, you need to understand what you’re dealing with.

Editorial Playlists (Spotify Official)

These are the playlists curated by Spotify’s in-house editorial team. Names like New Music Friday, RapCaviar, Hot Country, and Indie Pop. They have official Spotify branding and millions of followers.

Characteristics:

  • Curated by human editors who specialize in genres
  • Updated weekly (usually Friday)
  • Millions of followers each
  • Very difficult to get on (high competition)
  • Huge impact when you do land one

Examples:

  • New Music Friday (genre variations: NMF Hip-Hop, NMF Indie, etc.)
  • RapCaviar (hip-hop)
  • Lorem (indie/alternative)
  • Hot Country
  • mint (pop)
  • Peaceful Piano

Algorithmic Playlists (Spotify AI)

These are personalized playlists generated by Spotify’s algorithms for individual users. Every listener has their own version of these playlists, customized to their taste.

Characteristics:

  • Generated automatically by Spotify’s AI
  • Personalized for each listener
  • Updated frequently (daily or weekly)
  • Based on listener behavior and song performance
  • You can’t submit directly, but you can optimize for them

Examples:

  • Discover Weekly (new-to-you songs every Monday)
  • Release Radar (new releases from artists you follow)
  • Daily Mix (6 personalized mixes based on taste clusters)
  • Radio (generated from any song or artist)

User-Curated Playlists (Independent Curators)

These are playlists created by individual Spotify users, influencers, blogs, and brands. Quality and reach vary wildly, from 50 followers to 500,000+.

Characteristics:

  • Created by anyone with a Spotify account
  • Highly variable quality and reach
  • Easiest to get placements on
  • Some are great, many are low-quality or fraudulent
  • Require outreach and relationship-building

Examples:

  • Playlists by music blogs and media outlets
  • Influencer-curated playlists
  • Brand playlists (stores, restaurants, etc.)
  • Playlists created by active music fans

How to Submit to Spotify Editorial Playlists

Getting on editorial playlists is the dream. Here’s how to actually do it.

Step-by-Step Submission Process

You can only submit unreleased music to Spotify editorial. The submission happens through Spotify for Artists.

Steps:

  1. Claim your Spotify for Artists profile (if you haven’t already)

  2. Upload your song to your distributor

    • Set the release date 4-6 weeks in the future
    • Make sure Spotify is selected as a delivery platform

  3. Wait for the song to appear in Spotify for Artists

    • Usually shows up 2-5 days after distributor submission
    • Will appear under “Upcoming” in your dashboard

  4. Click “Pitch a Song”

    • Only available for unreleased songs
    • You can only pitch ONE song per release

  5. Fill out the pitch form

    • This is your one chance to sell the song
    • Be thoughtful and complete

What to Include in Your Pitch

The pitch form asks for specific information. Each field matters.

Song details:

  • Genre (primary and secondary)
  • Mood and energy level
  • Instruments featured
  • Languages in the song
  • Type of recording (studio, live, acoustic)

The written pitch: This is your 500-character opportunity to convince an editor. Include:

  • What the song is about (story, inspiration)
  • Why it matters or is timely
  • Any notable context (collaborators, production style)
  • Social proof if you have it (previous streams, press, sync placements)

Example pitch:

“‘Midnight Drive’ is about the restless energy of leaving everything behind. I wrote it during a cross-country move, processing the end of a relationship. The production blends 80s synth nostalgia with modern indie pop. Previous single ‘Neon Lights’ was added to Fresh Finds and hit 500k streams. This song represents a more vulnerable direction.”

Similar artists: Name 2-3 artists whose fans would enjoy your song. Be realistic. Saying you sound like Taylor Swift won’t help. Specific, genre-appropriate comparisons are better.

What Spotify Editors Look For

Editorial curators review thousands of pitches. Here’s what makes yours stand out.

Song quality: This is obvious but essential. The song needs to be professionally produced, mixed, and mastered. Amateur production is an instant skip.

Momentum and social proof: Are people already listening to you? Do you have playlist adds on previous songs? Social following? Press coverage? Editors want to champion artists who are building something, not just throwing songs into the void.

Story and context: Why does this song matter? What makes it interesting? Songs with compelling stories get editor attention.

Professional presentation: Is your Spotify for Artists profile complete? Do you have a good artist photo, bio, and Canvas? Sloppy presentation signals an artist who isn’t ready for editorial support.

Timeline and Expectations

Submit 4-6 weeks before release.

Spotify editors work on playlists 1-2 weeks in advance. If you submit too late, you’ve already missed the window. Earlier is better.

Most songs don’t get selected.

Let’s be honest: the vast majority of submitted songs do not get editorial placement. This is normal. Editors receive thousands of pitches and can only add a fraction.

Rejection isn’t personal. It doesn’t mean your song is bad. It means there wasn’t space or the song wasn’t the right fit for current playlists.

Even rejected songs matter.

When you pitch through Spotify for Artists, you’re signaling to Spotify that this is a priority release. This data may influence algorithmic recommendations even if you don’t get an editorial add.

For more on timing your release, see our music release timeline.

How to Trigger Algorithmic Playlists

You can’t submit to algorithmic playlists. But you can optimize your song to trigger them.

What Signals the Algorithm

Spotify’s algorithm analyzes listener behavior to decide which songs to recommend. The key signals:

Completion rate: Do listeners finish your song? High skip rates (people stopping the song early) hurt your algorithmic performance. Songs that get played all the way through signal quality.

Saves and playlist adds: When listeners save your song to their library or add it to their own playlists, it signals strong interest. This is one of the strongest positive signals.

Repeat listens: Do people play your song multiple times? Repeat plays indicate a song with lasting appeal.

Skip rate: If listeners frequently skip your song, the algorithm learns it’s not resonating. High skip rate = lower algorithmic distribution.

Optimizing Your Song for Algorithms

You can’t change a song after release, but you can design releases with algorithms in mind.

Hook placement: The first 30 seconds are critical. If people skip in the first 30 seconds, you lose them. Start with your most compelling element.

Song length: Songs between 2:30 and 4:00 tend to perform best algorithmically. Too short and you don’t accumulate enough listen time. Too long and people skip before the end.

Consistent release schedule: Spotify’s algorithm rewards artists who release regularly. Single every 4-8 weeks performs better than an album once a year for algorithmic discovery.

For release strategy, see our waterfall release strategy guide.

Building Pre-Release Momentum

What you do before release affects algorithmic performance.

Pre-save campaigns: When listeners pre-save your song, it automatically appears in their Release Radar on release day. More pre-saves = more Release Radar adds = stronger day-one performance = better algorithmic signals.

Email list activation: Your email subscribers are your most engaged fans. If they stream your song repeatedly and save it, that sends strong signals. Email outperforms social for day-one activation.

See our email list guide for building this asset.

Follower growth: When someone follows you on Spotify, your new releases automatically appear in their Release Radar. More followers = more guaranteed Release Radar appearances.

Understanding Release Radar and Discover Weekly

Release Radar: Personalized playlist updated every Friday with new releases from artists you follow plus similar artists. Your song appears here automatically if someone follows you. The more follows, the bigger your Release Radar reach.

Discover Weekly: Updated every Monday with songs you haven’t heard but might like. This is pure algorithm. Your song gets placed here when listener behavior signals it fits someone’s taste.

You can’t directly control Discover Weekly placement. But strong engagement on your release (saves, completions, repeat plays) makes it more likely.

How to Get on User-Curated Playlists

User-curated playlists are the most accessible entry point. Here’s how to approach them.

Finding Relevant Playlists

Search Spotify: Search for your genre + keywords like “indie,” “new,” “fresh,” or “discover.” Look for playlists with decent follower counts (1,000-100,000 is a good range).

Check “Discovered On”: Go to a similar artist’s Spotify profile. Scroll to “Discovered On” to see which playlists feature them. If they’re similar to you, those playlists might accept your music.

Use research tools:

  • SpotOnTrack
  • Chartmetric
  • Soundplate

These tools help you find playlists that fit your genre and identify curator contact info.

Reaching Out to Curators

Find contact info: Check the playlist description for links or contact information. Look up the curator on social media. Many curators include submission info on their profiles or websites.

Write a personal pitch: Generic emails get deleted. Personal, thoughtful pitches get attention.

What to include:

  • Why your song fits this specific playlist (not just any playlist)
  • Streaming link (Spotify link, not private file)
  • Brief bio (1-2 sentences)
  • Social proof if relevant (previous streams, press)
  • Thank them for their time

Example email:

Subject: Song submission for [Playlist Name]

Hi [Curator Name],

I discovered your playlist [Playlist Name] while listening to [Artist already on the playlist]. I think my new single “Midnight Drive” could fit well alongside tracks like [specific song on their playlist].

It’s an indie pop track with 80s synth influences about leaving everything behind. Here’s the Spotify link: [link]

Thanks for taking a listen. I love what you’ve put together with this playlist.

[Your Name]

Follow-up etiquette: One follow-up after a week is appropriate. More than that is annoying. If they don’t respond, move on.

Playlist Pitching Services

These platforms connect you with playlist curators for a fee.

SubmitHub:

  • Pay per submission (credits)
  • Curators must respond within 48 hours
  • Transparent feedback on rejections
  • Good for smaller curators

Playlist Push:

  • Campaign-based pricing
  • Guarantees playlist considerations, not placements
  • Better for larger campaigns

Daily Playlists, SoundCampaign:

  • Similar to above
  • Varying quality and results

When pitching services are worth it:

  • You want to reach curators you can’t find otherwise
  • You have budget and want to scale outreach
  • You understand it’s for exposure, not volume

Spotify Ad Studio: Spotify also offers its own advertising platform where you can create audio ads that play between songs. Budgets start at around $250. This is different from playlist placement—it’s direct advertising to Spotify listeners based on demographics, location, and music taste. Worth considering for artists with budget who want guaranteed reach (even if it’s ads, not organic discovery). Search “Spotify Ad Studio” to explore.

Red flags:

  • Guaranteed placements (real curators don’t guarantee)
  • Suspiciously cheap bulk placements (bot playlists)
  • Claims of tens of thousands of streams for low cost

Playlist Maintenance: Staying On

Getting added is step one. Staying on is step two.

Why songs get removed:

  • Playlist needs to make room for new music
  • Song isn’t performing well (low saves from playlist listeners)
  • Curator changes the playlist direction

How to stay longer:

Drive traffic to playlists that add you: Share the playlist (not just your song) on social media. When you send traffic to the playlist, curators notice and appreciate it.

Engage with the curator: Thank them publicly. Share their playlist. Build a relationship. Curators are more likely to keep songs from artists they know.

Your song’s performance matters: If listeners skip your song or don’t save it, curators may remove you. Make sure your best songs are the ones getting pitched.

What NOT to Do

The playlist space is full of scams and bad practices. Avoid these mistakes.

Never pay for fake playlist placements:

There’s an entire industry of “playlist promotion” services that place your song on bot-driven playlists. These playlists may have impressive follower counts, but the streams come from fake accounts.

Why this hurts you:

  • Spotify detects bot activity and may remove streams
  • Your account could be penalized or removed
  • Fake streams don’t become real fans
  • You’ve wasted money on nothing

Don’t spam curators:

Sending the same generic email to 500 curators wastes everyone’s time. Curators talk to each other. Getting a reputation as a spammer closes doors.

Don’t submit to every playlist:

Relevance matters. Your indie folk song doesn’t belong on a hip-hop playlist. Even if they add you, the listeners will skip, and your algorithmic performance suffers.

Avoid “playlist placement” guarantees:

No legitimate service can guarantee editorial placement. If someone promises you’ll definitely get on playlists for a fee, they’re either lying or running fake playlists.

Tracking Your Playlist Performance

Use data to understand what’s working.

Spotify for Artists analytics:

In your dashboard, you can see:

  • Which playlists your song is on
  • How many streams each playlist generates
  • Listener demographics from each source
  • Save rate from playlist listeners

What to look for:

High-performing playlists: Which playlists send the most engaged listeners (high save rates, repeat plays)?

Conversion rate: What percentage of playlist listeners become followers? This indicates quality of fit.

Geographical data: Where are your playlist listeners located? This helps with tour planning and targeted marketing.

Building Your Playlist Strategy

Playlists are one piece of your overall strategy. Here’s how to think about them.

For new releases:

  1. Submit to Spotify editorial 4-6 weeks before release
  2. Reach out to 20-50 user-curated playlists 2-4 weeks before
  3. Build pre-save campaign to maximize Release Radar
  4. Activate email list on release day for strong signals
  5. Submit to more user playlists after release

Between releases:

  1. Maintain relationships with curators who added you
  2. Research new playlists for next release
  3. Build Spotify followers (more Release Radar reach)
  4. Analyze what worked and what didn’t

Long-term:

Playlists are discovery tools, not the end goal. The goal is converting playlist listeners into followers and fans who engage with your music directly. Don’t optimize purely for playlist streams. Optimize for building a real audience.

For a complete release plan, see our music marketing checklist. Also check our TikTok music promotion guide for driving traffic that converts to Spotify streams.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many playlists should I aim for?

Quality over quantity. Ten relevant playlists with engaged listeners beat 100 low-quality playlists. Aim for steady growth: 5-10 new quality playlists per release is solid progress for an indie artist.

Can I submit the same song to editorial multiple times?

No. You can only pitch a song once before release. If you don’t get editorial placement, you cannot resubmit that song. Focus on making the one pitch count.

Are playlist pitching services worth it?

Sometimes. SubmitHub is worthwhile for reaching curators you couldn’t find otherwise. Expensive “guaranteed” services are usually scams. Budget $50-$150 per release for playlist outreach as an experiment. Scale what works.

How long do songs stay on playlists?

It varies wildly. Editorial playlists rotate quickly (1-4 weeks typically). User playlists may keep songs longer, especially if performance is good. Some evergreen playlists keep songs for months or years. There’s no guarantee.

Do playlist streams count the same as organic streams?

For royalty purposes, yes. A stream is a stream. But for algorithmic purposes, engaged streams (saves, repeats, completion) signal quality better than passive playlist plays. Not all streams are created equal in how they affect future discovery.

How long does Spotify editorial take to respond?

They don’t respond directly. If you get an editorial placement, you’ll see it in your Spotify for Artists dashboard (check the “Music” tab and look for playlist adds). If you don’t get placed, there’s no rejection email—you just won’t see the placement. Check your dashboard regularly after release.

Can I submit the same song twice to Spotify editorial?

No. Each song can only be pitched once, before release. Once a song is released, it’s no longer eligible for editorial submission. This is why getting the pitch right the first time matters.

What’s a good Spotify save rate?

A save rate of 3-5% is solid (meaning 3-5% of listeners save the song to their library). Above 5% is excellent. Below 1% suggests the song isn’t resonating with its audience. You can see save rate in Spotify for Artists analytics.