Spotify Artist Playlists
Spotify Artist Playlists are curated collections of music that appear directly on an artist’s Spotify profile. They allow artists to showcase their influences, highlight collaborators, support new releases, and give fans a deeper look into their musical world. Artist Playlists are a powerful storytelling tool, part branding, part fan engagement, and part discovery engine.
What Spotify Artist Playlists Are Designed For
Artist Playlists help artists shape their creative identity, introduce fans to their influences and inspirations, highlight collaborators or emerging artists, support new releases with themed or era-based playlists, and keep their profile active and engaging. They’re one of the most flexible and expressive features available to independent artists looking to promote new music on Spotify.
Key Features of Spotify Artist Branded or Themed Playlists
Curated by the Artist and Pitch Music Strategically
Artist Playlists are created and managed directly by the artist or their team. This gives creators full control over track selection, playlist order, playlist title and description, and cover image (in many cases). This curation helps fans understand the artist’s taste, influences, and creative direction, while allowing artists to pitch music in a personalized way.
Prominent Placement on the Artist Profile for Better Music Discovery
Artist Playlists appear in the Playlists section of the artist’s profile, making them easy for fans and curators to find. This placement helps increase playlist engagement, drive streams to featured tracks, and strengthen the artist’s brand identity. They act as a curated extension of the artist’s musical universe, boosting chances to be heard.
A Tool for Storytelling and Supporting Releases Around Your Release Date
Artist Playlists can be used to tell different types of stories, such as influences, songs that shaped the artist’s sound; collaboration tracks featuring friends, producers, or labelmates; eras, playlists themed around an album cycle or creative phase; vibes, mood based collections that reflect the artist’s aesthetic; and spotlights, playlists supporting emerging artists or community initiatives. This flexibility makes playlists a powerful narrative tool to support your release consistently.
Support for Release Strategy and Editorial Teams
Artist Playlists can play a strategic role in release campaigns by featuring a new single at the top, creating a playlist around the themes of an album, highlighting remixes or alternate versions, and pairing new music with older catalog tracks. This helps guide fans toward priority content while keeping the playlist experience organic. Such strategies align well with editorial playlists and the expectations of Spotify’s editorial teams.
Engagement and Discovery Benefits for Independent Artists
Artist Playlists help increase time spent on the artist’s profile, boost streams for both new and catalog tracks, introduce fans to deeper cuts or lesser known songs, and strengthen fan connection through shared taste. They’re a low effort, high impact way to keep fans engaged between releases and support music discovery on the Spotify platform.
Managed Through Spotify for Artists Platform
Artists can create and manage playlists through the Spotify app, but linking them to the artist profile is done via Spotify for Artists, where they can add or remove playlists from their profile, update playlist descriptions, and track performance metrics (indirectly, via playlist analytics). This ensures playlists stay aligned with the artist’s broader release process and marketing strategy.
Why Spotify Artist Playlists Matter for Your Music Releases
Artist Playlists are more than curated collections; they’re a branding and engagement asset. They help artists express their identity beyond their own music, build deeper relationships with fans, support release cycles and storytelling, keep their profile dynamic and relevant, and drive discovery for themselves and others. For independent artists looking to expand their presence on Spotify, artist playlists are one of the most versatile tools available to submit music and connect with curators and listeners.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spotify Artist Playlists and Pitching Music
What is the difference between Spotify Artist Playlists and regular Spotify playlists?
Spotify Artist Playlists are curated and managed by the artist themselves and appear directly on their profile, while regular Spotify playlists can be editorial (curated by Spotify’s editorial teams), algorithmic, or user-generated by listeners or influencers. Artist Playlists give artists control over their musical narrative and help fans explore their influences and collaborations.
How do I create and start submitting music to Spotify Artist Playlists?
To create an Artist Playlist, start by making a playlist in the Spotify app. Then, through Spotify for Artists, you can link this playlist to your artist profile so it appears in the Playlists section. From there, you can update the playlist’s title, description, and cover image to reflect your artistic vision. This process helps you pitch music directly to your audience and gain feedback.
Can Spotify Artist Playlists help with music promotion and getting heard by curators?
Yes, Artist Playlists are a powerful promotional tool. Featuring new releases, remixes, or collaborations in your playlists can direct fans and curators to your latest music. They also keep your profile active and engaging, which can improve your visibility in Spotify’s algorithm and enhance music discovery.
How often should I update my Artist Playlists to maximize success?
Regular updates are recommended to keep fans engaged and to reflect your evolving musical journey. Consider updating playlists around new releases, tours, or special events. Consistent refreshes can also encourage repeat visits to your profile and maintain momentum with your audience, helping you release consistently.
Are Artist Playlists visible to all Spotify users and influencers?
Yes, Spotify Artist Playlists are publicly visible to anyone who visits your artist profile, including influencers and curators. This makes them a great way to reach new listeners and give existing fans insight into your musical tastes and influences.
Can I feature other artists’ music in my playlists to build a network?
Absolutely. Artist Playlists are a great way to showcase collaborators, influences, and emerging artists you support. Featuring other artists’ tracks can build genuine relationships within the music community and introduce your fans to new sounds.
Do Artist Playlists impact Spotify’s algorithmic playlists or editorial playlist placements?
While Artist Playlists themselves don’t directly influence algorithmic playlists, increased engagement from fans on your profile, such as saves, shares, and streams, can improve your track’s performance in algorithmic playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly. Additionally, a strong presence and consistent submissions can catch the attention of editorial teams.
Is there a cost or hassle to creating and managing Spotify Artist Playlists?
No, creating and managing Artist Playlists is completely free through Spotify and Spotify for Artists. It’s a valuable, no cost way for independent artists to promote their music, submit new tracks, and connect with fans and curators without any hassle.
How can I maximize the impact of my Artist Playlists and submit music effectively?
Maximize impact by curating playlists that tell a story or fit a mood, featuring your new releases prominently, and promoting your playlists on social media and other channels. Engaging your audience to follow and share your playlists can also boost visibility and streams. Use the Spotify for Artists platform to pitch your music at least a week before your release date to improve your chances of playlist placement.
Want to Get Your Music on Spotify?
By leveraging Spotify Artist Playlists and understanding how to submit music to Spotify playlists effectively, independent artists can build stronger fanbases, promote their music more efficiently, and create genuine connections with listeners and curators. These playlists are an essential part of a modern music marketing strategy that supports ongoing engagement and music discovery. Incorporate Artist Playlists into your Spotify presence today to unlock their full potential. For more on distributing your music widely, Distribute Your Music to Spotify to maximize your reach across all streaming platforms.