How to Get on Spotify Editorial Playlists
What Are Spotify Editorial Playlists?
Spotify Editorial Playlists are carefully curated collections of music created and maintained by Spotify’s in house team of expert playlist curators and editors. Unlike algorithmic or user generated playlists, these playlists are handpicked to showcase the best new music, specific genres, moods, or cultural moments. Examples include popular playlists like New Music Friday, RapCaviar, Fresh Finds, and Hot Country. Being featured on these playlists can significantly increase your exposure to millions of Spotify users worldwide.
Why Are Spotify Editorial Playlists Important for Artists?
Landing a spot on a Spotify Editorial Playlist can be a game changer for independent artists and established musicians alike. Editorial playlists often have millions of followers and attract high listener engagement, which can lead to:
- Dramatic increases in Spotify streams
- More followers and saves on your Spotify profile
- Greater visibility to new listeners and potential fans
- Enhanced credibility within the music industry
- Opportunities to be featured on additional algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar
- Increased chances of media coverage, booking at live performances, and collaborations with other artists
Editorial playlists act as a stamp of approval from Spotify’s editorial team, signaling quality and relevance to the broader music community.
Understanding the Types of Spotify Playlists
Before pitching your music, it’s useful to understand the three main types of playlists on Spotify:
- Editorial Playlists: Curated by Spotify’s editorial team. These have the largest audiences and are highly influential.
- Algorithmic Spotify Playlists: Generated automatically by Spotify’s algorithm based on listener behavior. Examples include Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Daily Mix, and Spotify Radio. Artists cannot pitch directly to these playlists, but strong performance on editorial playlists can help trigger placements here.
- User-Generated Playlists: Created by individual users, influencers, or independent curators. These playlists vary widely in size and influence and can be a valuable part of your promotion strategy.
The Essential Workflow to Pitch Your Music to Spotify Editorial Playlists
1. Use Spotify for Artists to Submit Your Music
Pitching to Spotify’s editorial team is done exclusively through the Spotify for Artists platform. To get started:
- Claim your Spotify for Artists account if you haven’t already. This requires you to have your music distributed to Spotify via a third party distributor like Unchained Music. Spotify does not allow direct uploads.
- Once your unreleased track appears in the Upcoming section of your dashboard, you can submit it for editorial playlist consideration.
2. Submit Only Unreleased Music
Spotify only accepts pitches for unreleased music. You can pitch one track per release, and it must be your primary artist track (not a compilation or just a featured artist role). This ensures the editors hear your music for the first time and can consider it fresh for playlist inclusion.
3. Pitch at Least 28 Days Before Your Release Date
Although Spotify officially recommends submitting music at least 7 days before release, industry best practice is to submit your pitch at least 28 days before your release date. This gives editors enough time to listen, evaluate, and consider your track for their playlists. Early submission also allows your track to gain momentum through pre saves and social buzz, which can influence playlist placement decisions.
4. Complete the Pitch Form with Detailed Metadata
When submitting your track, you’ll be asked to fill out a detailed pitch form including:
- Genre and subgenre tags
- Mood and song style descriptors
- Instruments used in the track
- Cultural influences or location
- A compelling pitch (up to 500 characters) explaining the story behind the song, your target audience, and any promotional plans
- Optional: links to press coverage, social media campaigns, or upcoming live performances
Accurate and rich metadata helps Spotify route your submission to the right editorial teams and playlist curators who specialize in your style.
5. Craft a Compelling Pitch
Your pitch is your opportunity to stand out. Focus on:
- The inspiration or story behind the track
- Why this song matters now
- Who your target audience is
- Any unique elements or collaborations
- Your plans to actively promote the song (e.g., social media campaigns, music videos, live shows)
Avoid generic pitches. Make it personal, concise, and engaging.
What Spotify Editors Look For
Spotify’s editorial team evaluates submissions based on:
- Track quality: Professional mixing and mastering can make a big difference. Learn more about professional mixing and mastering services.
- Metadata accuracy: Proper genre, mood, and cultural tags improve routing.
- Momentum signals: Pre saves, social media buzz, press mentions, and past streaming performance.
- Fit for specific playlists: Editors look for songs that align with the playlist’s theme or mood.
- Artist story and context: Why is this track relevant now? What’s your background?
Remember, no one can guarantee placement. Editorial playlists are highly competitive and selective.
Benefits of Pitching Even Without Placement
Even if your track doesn’t get placed on an editorial playlist, pitching still offers benefits:
- Your track will automatically appear in your followers’ Release Radar playlist.
- Improved algorithmic routing to Spotify Radio, Auto play, and other personalized playlists.
- Enhanced metadata footprint helps long term discovery.
- Increased visibility to Spotify’s editorial and data teams.
How to Prepare Your Spotify Profile for Editorial Playlists
Your Spotify profile is your artist CV and is reviewed by playlist editors before they consider your pitch. Make sure your profile is:
- Complete with a professional bio that highlights your music style, achievements, and story
- Equipped with high quality images including press photos and cover art
- Linked to your active social media accounts
- Featuring your best tracks and any public playlists that showcase your influences or style
- Updated regularly to reflect your latest releases and projects
A polished, engaging profile increases your chances of catching the attention of playlist curators. For tips on optimizing your profile, visit Spotify for Artists Help.
Building Momentum Outside Spotify
To improve your chances of getting featured:
- Actively promote your upcoming release on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Use paid ads to drive traffic to your Spotify profile and encourage pre-saves.
- Engage with your fans and encourage them to follow your Spotify profile and save your music.
- Collaborate with other artists and influencers to broaden your reach.
- Submit your music to independent user generated playlists and blogs to build buzz.
- Attend music industry events and conferences to network with playlist curators and industry professionals.
Building relationships with playlist curators and industry insiders can open doors to editorial playlist consideration.
Consistency Is Key
Spotify’s editorial team favors artists who release music regularly. Aim to release new music every 6-8 weeks to show you’re an active artist. Consistent releases help build your profile, grow your audience, and improve your chances of being noticed by Spotify’s editorial team.
Advanced Tips for Pitching to Spotify Editorial Playlists
- Focus on niche playlists: It’s often easier to get featured on smaller, genre specific playlists than on broad mainstream ones.
- Choose your strongest track: Pitch the song with the highest hook potential and best production quality.
- Include quotes or press mentions: If your music has been featured in media outlets, include this in your pitch to add credibility.
- Leverage your past success: Highlight previous playlist placements or streaming milestones in your pitch.
- Use Spotify’s pre save feature: Encourage fans to pre save your track to increase early engagement metrics.
What Happens After You Pitch Your Music?
Once you submit your pitch:
- Spotify’s editorial team reviews your track and metadata.
- They decide whether to add your song to editorial playlists.
- You will be notified if your track gets placed.
- Regardless of placement, monitor your Spotify for Artists dashboard for performance metrics.
Use this data to adjust your promotional strategies and prepare for future releases.
What to Do If You Get Placed on an Editorial Playlist
Congratulations! When your track gets featured:
- Promote the placement on your social media and website.
- Encourage fans to follow your Spotify profile and save the track.
- Use the increased streams and followers to negotiate better gigs, media opportunities, and partnerships.
- Continue releasing quality music to maintain momentum.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
- Do not pay for playlist placement; this violates Spotify policies and can harm your reputation.
- Avoid submitting tracks too close to the release date; editors need time to review.
- Don’t submit multiple songs at once; Spotify only allows one pitch per release.
- Ensure your metadata is accurate and complete to avoid misrouting.
Summary: How to Get on Spotify Editorial Playlists
- Distribute your music through Unchained Music, a reputable third party distributor.
- Claim and verify your Spotify for Artists account.
- Submit one unreleased track via Spotify for Artists at least 28 days before release.
- Complete the pitch form with detailed and accurate metadata.
- Craft a compelling pitch telling your song’s story and target audience.
- Prepare your Spotify profile with high quality images, bio, and links.
- Actively promote your music on and off Spotify to build momentum.
- Build relationships with playlist curators and industry professionals.
- Release music consistently to show you are an active artist.
- Monitor your performance and refine your strategy for future releases.
By following these best practices and staying persistent, you can significantly increase your chances of being featured on Spotify Editorial Playlists and advancing your music career.
Ready to Get Your Music Heard?
Take the first step towards playlist success by distributing your music with Unchained Music. With fast, reliable distribution to Spotify and over 200 other streaming platforms worldwide, plus powerful tools for playlist pitching, marketing, and royalty management, Unchained Music empowers independent artists to reach a broader audience and grow their music career.
Start your journey today and get your music featured on Spotify Editorial Playlists and beyond! Visit Unchained Music Distribution to learn more and sign up.