Finding playlist curators is half the battle of playlist promotion. Spotify doesn't provide curator directories, and most curators don't advertise their contact information publicly. This playbook covers every method for discovering curator contacts—from manual research to specialized tools—plus proven approaches for converting cold outreach into playlist placements.
TLDR: Find curators through playlist descriptions (40% have contact info), Instagram profile searches using Spotify usernames, curator communities on Discord and Facebook, and playlist finder tools that aggregate contact data. Approach via email for professional curators and Instagram DM for casual curators. Always personalize by referencing their playlist's theme and recent additions. Follow up once after 7 days.
Where Curators Hide Their Contact Info
Curators don't list contact information uniformly. You need to check multiple sources:
Playlist descriptions: About 40% of curators include email addresses, Instagram handles, or submission form links in their playlist descriptions. Check the playlist info panel on Spotify.
Curator Spotify profiles: Click the curator's name on a playlist to view their profile. Some include bio links to personal websites or social accounts.
Instagram searches: Search Instagram using the curator's Spotify username. Many curators use consistent usernames across platforms. Check bios for email addresses.
Twitter searches: Similar approach—search the curator's Spotify username on Twitter. Music curators often promote their playlists on Twitter.
Personal websites: If a curator has a website linked in their Spotify bio or playlist description, check the contact page.
Submission forms: Some curators use dedicated submission platforms (like Submithub, Groover, or personal Typeform/Google Form links) mentioned in descriptions.
Manual Research Process
Step 1: Find a playlist in your genre using Spotify search or playlist finder tools.
Step 2: Click the curator's name to view their profile. Note their username.
Step 3: Check the playlist description for contact information (email, Instagram, submission form).
Step 4: If no contact in description, search Instagram and Twitter for their username.
Step 5: Check their Instagram bio or linked website for email addresses.
Step 6: If you find a website, look for a Contact page or submission guidelines.
Step 7: Log the contact information in your tracking spreadsheet.
Manual research takes 5-15 minutes per curator. For 30 curators, expect 3-8 hours of research.
Using Playlist Finder Tools
Tools like Playlist Pilot automate contact discovery by aggregating curator information from multiple sources. The tool scrapes Instagram bios, playlist descriptions, and public databases to provide curator emails, Instagram handles, and submission forms alongside playlist data.
Benefits of tools: Save hours of manual research. Access verified, current contact information. Combine contact discovery with bot detection to filter out fake playlists.
Tool limitations: No tool has 100% coverage. Some curators keep contact private. Combine tools with manual research for maximum reach.
Curator Community Discovery
Many curators participate in online communities where they share playlists and accept submissions:
Discord servers: Indie music promotion servers often have curator channels. Search Discord server directories for music promotion or playlist curators.
Facebook groups: Groups like Spotify Playlist Promotion and Indie Music Feedback include curators accepting submissions.
Reddit: Subreddits like r/SpotifyPlaylists and r/IndieMusicFeedback have curators sharing playlists.
See our Top 25 Curator Communities guide for specific community recommendations.
Community etiquette: Don't spam links. Introduce yourself, engage with community discussions, and pitch appropriately when submissions are invited.
Email Outreach Approach
Use email for professional curators with larger followings who expect business communication.
Subject line: Include the playlist name and your artist name. Example: Submission for [Playlist Name] - [Your Artist Name]
Opening: Reference the playlist by name and mention a recent track addition to show you researched.
Pitch: Explain briefly why your track fits (1-2 sentences about sonic similarity to their playlist).
Link: Include a direct Spotify track link—not an album or artist link.
Close: Thank them for their time and offer to provide additional information.
Length: 100-150 words maximum. Curators receive dozens of emails and skim pitches quickly.
See our Pitch Template Pack for copy-paste templates.
Instagram DM Approach
Use Instagram DMs for casual curators, smaller playlists, or when email is unavailable.
Tone: More conversational than email. Write like you're messaging a friend who shares your music taste.
Length: 50-75 words. Shorter is better for DMs.
Opening: Compliment their playlist genuinely. Reference a specific track you love on their playlist.
Pitch: Quick explanation of your track and why it fits.
Link: Include the Spotify link on a new line so it's easy to click.
Follow the curator: Follow their account before messaging. Cold DMs from non-followers often get filtered.
Avoid: Message requests that look spammy. Don't use identical messages for every curator—personalize each one.
Follow-Up Strategy
Most curators don't respond to first pitches due to volume, not disinterest. A polite follow-up doubles your response rate.
Timing: Wait 7-10 days after initial pitch. Shorter follow-ups feel pushy; longer follow-ups get lost in time.
Format: Reply to your original message/email with a brief check-in. Example: Hi [Name], just following up on my pitch for [Playlist Name]. Wanted to make sure it didn't get buried. The track is here: [link]. Thanks either way!
Limit: One follow-up only. Two messages is professional; three or more is harassment. If they don't respond to your follow-up, move on.
Building Long-Term Relationships
The best playlist promotion comes from curator relationships, not one-off pitches.
Engage authentically: Follow curators on social media, like their posts, comment on their playlists. Be a genuine fan of their curation.
Provide value: Share their playlists with your audience. Curators appreciate artists who promote their playlists, not just ask for adds.
Be professional: If added, thank them publicly. If rejected, accept gracefully. Never argue with curator decisions.
Stay in touch: Message curators when you have genuinely relevant new releases (not every single). Remind them of previous interactions.
Exclusives: For strong relationships, offer curators exclusive first access to new releases. This incentivizes adds and builds loyalty.
Tracking Your Outreach
Organization separates amateur from professional promotion. Create a tracking spreadsheet with these columns:
Playlist name, Follower count, Genre, Curator name, Contact method (email/Instagram/form), Date pitched, Follow-up date, Response received, Outcome (added/rejected/no response), Notes.
Track every pitch to prevent duplicate outreach, identify which playlist types respond best, and measure your acceptance rate over time.
Common Outreach Mistakes
No personalization: Copy-paste templates with no reference to the specific playlist get deleted immediately.
Wrong contact method: Sending formal emails to casual curators who prefer DMs (and vice versa) feels off-putting.
Attaching files: Never attach MP3s. They trigger spam filters and curators won't download them. Spotify links only.
Multiple follow-ups: More than one follow-up becomes harassment. Respect curator time and attention.
Pitching wrong genres: Sending an EDM track to a folk playlist wastes everyone's time. Research before pitching.
Ignoring rejection: If a curator explicitly says no, don't re-pitch the same track. Move on or wait several months with new music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Finding curators requires checking playlist descriptions, searching social platforms by username, joining curator communities, and using playlist finder tools. Approach professional curators via email (100-150 words) and casual curators via Instagram DM (50-75 words). Always personalize by referencing specific playlist tracks. Follow up once after 7 days. Build long-term relationships by engaging authentically and providing value. Track every pitch in a spreadsheet to measure results and prevent duplicate outreach. Professional, personalized outreach converts cold contacts into playlist placements.