The Spotify playlist ecosystem is tremendous sketchy.
You in all probability already know this; for those who’ve spent 5 minutes researching get on Spotify playlists, I’ll wager you’ve already come throughout a world of enjoyable phrases like…
- “Disengaged streams”
- “Botted lists”
- “Certain I’ll add your track to my playlist it solely prices $90 right here’s the PayPal hyperlink”
Yeah, all that stuff sucks.
I get it. Unhealthy concentrating on, botted lists, payola – it’s all actual. Playlists provide the promise of streams, however quite a lot of artists have discovered that the truth of making an attempt to get positioned on one is usually type of soul-crushing. It’s sufficient to make any ethical, rational individual second-guess the entire idea.
Which is just too dangerous. As a result of, regardless of all of the ugliness on the market, I stay a agency believer that playlisting can be a very efficient strategy to get a bunch of individuals to listen to your music. I’ve simply seen it work too many occasions to suppose in any other case.
And it is smart, proper? Playlists are actually the inspiration of Spotify. Of course they may help get you extra streams.
Now, there’s actually nuance to this. If you would like a extra detailed breakdown of whether or not or not playlist pitching is worth it, you may take a look at an article I wrote earlier this 12 months known as “Does Playlist Pitching Work?” (and spoiler: my reply is “typically”).
However at present, whereas I do wish to acknowledge the potential sketchiness of playlists, I additionally wish to transfer on from that first query – the query of whether or not playlists work – and get into the subsequent query.
The subsequent query is that this:
Assuming it is worthwhile to get on a superb playlist, how can I discover good playlists?
As a result of I believe figuring out a number of strong solutions to that query goes a good distance towards serving to you navigate the ecosystem’s sketchiness – and a good distance towards getting you outcomes that truly fulfill the promise of playlists, somewhat than betraying it.
And with that prolonged intro, let’s get into it. Listed below are 3 ways to search out playlists (and curators) price pitching.
1. Use a software.
That is in all probability the simplest strategy to discover good playlists. The thought is that you simply pay for entry to software program that capabilities type of like Google for playlists: You seek for a key phrase, the software exhibits you outcomes that match, and also you click on into the outcomes to get the small print and make your pitch.
From what I’ve seen, there are two variations of those instruments.
One model is basically a static database that’s manually curated with info on playlists and curators.
The second model is a search software that pulls stay information from Spotify’s API.
With the primary model (a static database), you may get actually detailed information – information like curator Twitter handles, SubmitHub profiles, related web sites, and extra. The downside is that the information can go old-fashioned fairly quick.
Playlist Radar is an instance of a software that makes use of this strategy.
With the second model (a stay search software), you get up-to-the-minute information, since you’re actually querying Spotify’s stay API and churning by way of each playlist on the platform. This implies you’ll see real-time follower development curves and playlist engagement information – nevertheless it additionally implies that you don’t get something exterior of Spotify’s API (like SubmitHub profiles, and so forth.). Any contact information these instruments flip up is normally pulled proper from playlists’ descriptions.
Artist Tools is an instance of a software that makes use of this strategy.
Personally, I take advantage of Artist Instruments once I run playlisting campaigns or do playlist analysis. (Relatedly, the hyperlink up there’s an affiliate hyperlink.)
I just like the live-query strategy as a result of it helps you consider the standard of a playlist instantly. Artist Instruments, particularly, pulls up this little information field that offers a fast analysis of a listing’s high quality, which I’ve discovered to be fairly useful.
However there are many different choices, too. I simply had a name final week with the group behind Playlist Supply, and I’ve used the free model of Playlist Map. From what I can inform, all of those seem to be strong choices, and actually, the primary performance throughout all of them is fairly constant.
One closing be aware on utilizing instruments:
Whenever you go this route, the construction of your search is every little thing. Lots of folks search by style to begin out; that’s nice, nevertheless it’s type of restricted, as a result of most playlists are constructed for moods greater than for genres.
In the event you use a software, I’d suggest making an attempt a number of totally different approaches to broaden the playlists you discover. Don’t simply search by style; search by different elements, like temper or comparable artists. You’ll get extra outcomes this manner – and the longer your listing of playlists to pitch, the higher likelihood you’ve at getting positioned.
Lengthy-story-short, utilizing a software is a strong (and simple) possibility.
2. Discover playlists by way of comparable artists on Spotify.
In the event you don’t wish to pay like $15 / month for a software, no worries. Yow will discover playlists your self without cost; it’ll simply take slightly extra time.
In my expertise, one of the simplest ways to search out new playlists your self is to make use of what Kohrey from the Model Man community calls the “About Part Technique.”
Right here’s the gist:
- You go to Spotify and use their search bar to discover a playlist within the style you’re concentrating on.
- You verify to ensure the playlist is run by a third-party curator (i.e., not Spotify or some main model like Topsify) and is high-quality (by plugging it right into a free software like isitagoodplaylist.com).
- You discover an artist on that playlist who has fewer than 50,000 month-to-month listeners.
- You go to that artist’s profile and scroll by way of their “Found on” part.
- You add all the playlists that appear like good matches to your listing, then dig by way of the descriptions to search out curator contact information.
- You employ every new playlist as a place to begin to search out extra artists and extra playlists.
If that bullet listing made the method appear complicated, I’m sorry. You may discover it simpler watching Kohrey explain it on video:
Crunch your keyboard for an hour with this technique, and also you’ll have a fairly intensive listing of playlists {that a}) suit your style and b) are open to putting smaller artists.
3. Attain out to the individuals who have playlisted you earlier than.
This third idea requires that you’ve music on Spotify with some streaming traction already – so, for those who haven’t launched a track but or in case you have lower than 1,000 streams, this isn’t for you.
However for those who have been on Spotify for a pair years and you’ve got ten thousand streams or extra, that is a simple win.
Right here’s the concept:
- Go to your Spotify for Artists portal.
- Go to Music -> Playlists.
- Set the date vary to “Since 2015.”
- Scroll all the way down to the Listener playlists and comb by way of to see playlists which have pushed streams for you prior to now.
- Pull up these playlists in Spotify and search for curator contact information.
- Attain out and ask the curators in the event that they’d place your music once more.
A few weeks in the past, I discussed that my good friend Joel is doing this for his upcoming launch cycle. Joel has over 30M streams. So, positive, he has quite a lot of playlists to select from when he does this, now – however he’s additionally proof that this strategy works.
Bonus: Pay to make use of a playlist community.
Okay, tremendous, I’ll throw this one in: Final (and perhaps least, relying in your perspective), I believe it solely is smart to say playlist networks as an possibility for locating curators.
By “playlist networks,” I’m principally referring to any platform {that a}) has collected and pre-verified a gaggle of playlist curators, and b) offers you the chance to select who your music is distributed to.
In different phrases, I’m not speaking about Playlist Push or Indie Music Academy or any service that submits your music for you, hands-off – however I’m speaking about choices like SubmitHub, the place you get to hand-pick curators your self and ship them your music.
A number of of those embrace:
- SubmitHub (You’ll be able to submit without cost however if you would like outcomes, you’ve just about acquired to pay $1 – $3 per submission)
- SoundPlate (Free, however you need to comply with curators / playlists to undergo them)
- Daily Playlists (Identical idea as SoundPlate however you may pay for credit, too)
With these networks, the downside is that many of the playlists they function are small / not tremendous impactful.
That’s as a result of, for those who’re a curator who’s constructed an enormous playlist and is contemplating becoming a member of a community, you’ll in all probability lean towards becoming a member of one thing like Playlist Push (the place you’ll make $12 per track overview) somewhat than becoming a member of one thing like Each day Playlists (the place you’ll make subsequent to nothing).
Nonetheless, the good thing about these networks is that they make the entire technique of looking and submitting very easy – and hey, so long as they’ve acquired engaged followings, even small playlists may help.
Closing ideas on discovering playlist curators
Three notes on technique earlier than I log off:
1. This takes a very long time and requires quite a lot of pitching.
Most frequently, you’ll get a two-to-five-percent placement fee. In different phrases, pitch 100 curators, and also you’ll get two-to-five placements.
This undeniably sucks.
However it does get a bit simpler over the long run – as a result of for those who get 5 placements for one launch, you may pitch these curators once more to your subsequent one. As you retain placing music out, the placements will construct.
However, yeah, it’s a grind.
2. You’re gonna get folks asking for payola.
I’d say that about half of the playlists that look good at first blush end up to require fee for placement. The curator will say one thing like, “Hey, love your track! I’d love so as to add it to our playlist. It prices $50.”
This situation is hard.
You’ll be able to completely report these folks to Spotify. Historically, I’ve emailed Spotify to do that, however they now have a “Report” button baked in for those who right-click on a playlist on desktop.
However curators may be capable to finagle their approach round Spotify’s Phrases of Service by claiming that they personal a number of playlists, and that your fee doesn’t assure placement on a particular listing.
It’s difficult, and it’s made trickier by the truth that, usually, it actually would be price $50 to be included on an individual’s listing.
Usually, although, right here’s what I’d suggest: When folks reply to your pitch and ask for cash – simply ignore them. It saves you time and the difficulty of coping with people who find themselves in all probability in it for a fast buck.
It takes some digging, however there are curators who will place your track on a playlist with out requiring fee. You’ve simply acquired to search out them.
And that lengthy, discouraging spiel brings me to this final level:
3. You don’t have to pitch playlists to get folks to listen to your music.
Look, there are different methods to search out ears. A very powerful factor isn’t to get on playlists, anyway – it’s to make good music over a protracted time frame and construct actual relationships.
Yeah, the entire playlist ecosystem is sketchy. Yeah, the method of pitching is a grind. However I’ve spent the previous a number of thousand phrases writing about all of it as a result of, if you need extra streams, pitching playlists is one of many paths ahead.
Playlists are only one strategy to get extra streams on Spotify. They’re a method to an finish.
That’s it.
Playlists will not be lower than that – however they positively will not be greater than that, both. Don’t stress an excessive amount of.
All proper, that’s it for this text. I hope a few of this has been useful. Man, it’s a loopy world on the market. As at all times, right here’s wishing you good luck in it.
