Getting on Spotify playlists requires research, targeting, and personalized pitches. You must find playlists that match your music's genre and follower range, verify those playlists have real audiences, obtain curator contact information, and send personalized pitches that explain why your track fits the playlist's theme. Editorial playlists are accessed through Spotify for Artists, not direct pitching.
TLDR: Research playlists using playlist finder tools, filter by genre and follower range, verify playlist authenticity using bot detection, obtain curator contact info, write personalized pitches referencing playlist theme and recent additions, and send pitches via email or Instagram. Editorial playlists require submission through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release.
Understanding Spotify Playlist Types
Spotify has three playlist types: editorial playlists curated by Spotify employees, algorithmic playlists generated by Spotify's recommendation system, and user-generated playlists created by independent curators. Each type requires a different approach.
Editorial playlists like Today's Top Hits and RapCaviar are curated by Spotify staff. You submit to editorial consideration through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before your release date. You cannot pitch directly to Spotify employees.
Algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar are generated by Spotify's recommendation algorithm. You cannot pitch to these playlists. They add your music based on listener behavior, playlist placement, and engagement metrics.
User-generated playlists are created by independent curators. These are the playlists you can research and pitch to directly. This guide focuses on user-generated playlists because they are accessible through outreach.
Step 1: Research Playlists That Match Your Music
Use playlist finder tools to search for playlists by genre, audio features, and follower range. Tools like Playlist Pilot, PlaylistSupply, and Spotlister index millions of playlists and let you filter by criteria relevant to your music.
Filter by genre and subgenre. If you make lo-fi hip hop, search for lo-fi, chill beats, study music, and instrumental hip hop playlists. Cast a wide net initially, then narrow results based on playlist themes.
Filter by follower range. Target playlists with follower counts appropriate for your reach. If you have 500 monthly listeners, pitching to 100,000-follower playlists is inefficient. Start with 1,000 to 10,000-follower playlists and scale up as you gain traction.
Use AI-powered matching if available. Tools like Playlist Pilot analyze your song's audio features (tempo, energy, mood) and match it with playlists that have similar tracks. This produces more accurate results than keyword search.
Step 2: Verify Playlist Authenticity
Bot playlists with fake followers are a major problem. These playlists use purchased followers and stream manipulation services. Pitching to them wastes time and can harm your Spotify profile.
Check follower-to-engagement ratios. A playlist with 10,000 followers but only 50 saves or 100 monthly listeners is likely fake. Real playlists have engagement proportional to their follower count.
Analyze follower growth patterns. Sudden spikes in followers (e.g., 1,000 to 10,000 in one week) indicate purchased followers. Organic growth is gradual and consistent.
Use bot detection tools. Playlist Pilot and similar tools score playlists for fraud risk using machine learning analysis of listener behavior and follower patterns. High-risk playlists should be avoided.
Listen to the playlist. Check if the playlist has a coherent theme and consistent sound. fake playlists often have random track collections with no thematic or sonic cohesion.
Step 3: Obtain Curator Contact Information
Most curators do not list email addresses in their Spotify profiles. You must search for contact information on Instagram, Twitter, personal websites, or submission platforms.
Check the playlist description. Some curators include email addresses, Instagram handles, or submission form links in their playlist descriptions.
Search Instagram. Use the curator's Spotify username to find their Instagram profile. Check their bio for email addresses or submission instructions.
Use playlist finder tools. Tools like Playlist Pilot automatically scrape curator contact information from Instagram, Twitter, and personal websites, saving you hours of manual research.
Verify contact freshness. If a curator's Instagram account has not posted in 6 months, they are likely inactive. Focus on curators who are actively engaged on social media.
Step 4: Write Personalized Pitches
Generic pitch templates have a 2 percent response rate. Curators receive hundreds of pitches per week and delete messages that show no research or effort.
Reference the playlist name and theme. Start your pitch by mentioning the playlist by name and explaining why your track fits its vibe.
Reference recent additions. Listen to the playlist's recent additions and mention a track or two that sound similar to yours. This shows you researched the playlist.
Keep it concise. Email pitches should be 100 to 150 words. Instagram DMs should be 50 to 75 words. Curators do not have time for long messages.
Include a Spotify link. Make it easy for curators to listen. Provide a direct Spotify track link, not an album link.
Use AI pitch generators if available. Tools like Playlist Pilot generate personalized pitches based on playlist themes and recent additions, saving time while maintaining relevance.
Step 5: Send Pitches And Follow Up
Send pitches via email if you have a verified email address. Email has higher open rates than Instagram DMs for professional outreach.
Send pitches via Instagram DM if email is not available. Keep DMs short and conversational. Avoid sounding like a mass email.
Do not spam. Send one pitch per curator. If you do not receive a response, wait 7 to 10 days before sending a polite follow-up.
Follow up once. A polite follow-up doubles your response rate. Most curators do not respond to the first pitch due to volume, not disinterest.
Track your pitches. Use a spreadsheet or CRM tool to log which playlists you pitched to, when you sent the pitch, and whether you received a response. This prevents duplicate pitches and helps you measure results.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Pitching to every playlist you find is inefficient. High volume does not equal high success. A targeted pitch to 20 well-researched playlists will outperform a mass email to 200 random curators.
Using generic templates destroys your response rate. Personalize every pitch. Reference the playlist's name, theme, and recent additions.
Ignoring bot-flagged playlists is critical. Fake playlists waste your time and can trigger Spotify's anti-fraud systems if curators use stream manipulation services.
Pitching to playlists that do not match your genre is a waste. A curator running a house music playlist will not add your indie rock track, no matter how good your pitch is.
Skipping follow-ups cuts your success rate in half. Most curators do not respond to the first pitch. A polite follow-up 7 to 10 days later doubles your response rate.
How Playlist Pilot Helps You Get Playlist Placements
Playlist Pilot combines AI-powered playlist matching, bot detection, and pitch generation to streamline the entire process. You upload your song, and the AI matches it with playlists based on audio features. Every playlist is scored for bot activity, so you avoid fake curators. The tool also generates personalized pitches and provides curator contact information, eliminating the manual research phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get on a Spotify playlist? Response times vary. Some curators respond within 24 hours. Others take weeks. On average, expect 7 to 14 days for a response.
Can I pitch to Spotify editorial playlists directly? No. Editorial playlists are curated by Spotify employees. You submit to editorial consideration through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before your release date.
How many playlists should I pitch to? Quality over quantity. Pitching 20 to 50 highly relevant playlists with personalized messages is more effective than mass-emailing 500 playlists.
What is a good playlist placement success rate? A 10 to 20 percent acceptance rate is strong for direct outreach. If you pitch 50 playlists, expect 5 to 10 placements.
Do playlist placements guarantee streams? Placement helps, but engagement depends on playlist quality. A 5,000-follower playlist with high save rates will drive more streams than a 50,000-follower playlist with bots.
Summary
Getting on Spotify playlists requires research, targeting, and personalized outreach. Use playlist finder tools to discover playlists that match your genre and follower range. Verify playlist authenticity using bot detection. Obtain curator contact information from Instagram or playlist descriptions. Write personalized pitches that reference playlist themes and recent additions. Send pitches via email or Instagram, and follow up politely if you do not receive a response. Avoid generic templates, bot playlists, and mass-pitching. Focus on quality over quantity.