Playlist promotion doesn't exist in isolation—it's part of a broader release strategy involving your distributor and streaming analytics. This guide shows how to integrate Playlist Pilot with DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and other distributors, plus how to use Spotify for Artists data to refine your targeting and measure results.
TLDR: Start playlist research 4-6 weeks before release. Submit to Spotify editorial through your distributor 7+ days before release. Use AI playlist matching for user-generated playlist targeting. After release, analyze Spotify for Artists data to identify which playlists drove streams and which listener demographics to target next. Combine distributor pre-save campaigns with playlist pitching for maximum release-day impact.
The Release Timeline Integration
Effective playlist promotion follows a timeline integrated with your distribution schedule:
6-8 weeks before release: Begin playlist research. Use Playlist Pilot to identify target playlists matching your genre and follower range.
4-6 weeks before release: Start pitching user-generated playlists. Some curators add tracks in advance of release or immediately upon release.
2-4 weeks before release: Submit to Spotify editorial through Spotify for Artists (accessible via most distributors). This requires your track to be distributed but not yet released.
1-2 weeks before release: Launch pre-save campaign through your distributor. Promote pre-save link on social media.
Release day: Monitor for playlist adds. Share any placements on social media. Continue pitching playlists that haven't responded.
Post-release: Analyze Spotify for Artists data to measure results and refine future targeting.
Major Distributor Workflows
DistroKid: Upload your release at least 7 days before release date for editorial consideration. DistroKid provides a link to Spotify for Artists once your track is in Spotify's system. Use this access to submit for editorial playlist consideration and later to analyze performance.
TuneCore: Similar timeline—upload 2-3 weeks early for processing. Access Spotify for Artists through TuneCore's dashboard or directly via Spotify for Artists website. TuneCore also offers promotional tools that complement playlist promotion.
CD Baby: Upload at least 2 weeks before release. CD Baby provides Spotify for Artists access through their Show.co integration. Their promotional tools can drive pre-saves that amplify playlist promotion results.
Ditto Music, LANDR, Amuse, others: All follow similar patterns. Upload early, access Spotify for Artists for editorial submissions, and use distributor analytics alongside Spotify's own data.
Spotify For Artists Editorial Submission
Spotify for Artists lets you submit upcoming releases for editorial playlist consideration. This is separate from user-generated playlist pitching.
Access: Log into Spotify for Artists (connected through your distributor). Navigate to your upcoming release.
Submission form: Spotify asks about genre, mood, instruments, culture, and the story behind the track. Be specific and honest—this information helps playlist editors understand your music.
Timing: Submit at least 7 days before release. Earlier is better—editorial teams review submissions in advance and plan playlists accordingly.
Expectations: Editorial placement is competitive and not guaranteed. Independent artists occasionally get placed, but most editorial playlist focus goes to label releases with promotional support.
Combining Pre-Saves With Playlist Promotion
Pre-save campaigns and playlist promotion are complementary:
Pre-saves drive Release Radar: When fans pre-save your track, it's automatically added to their Release Radar on release day. This provides immediate streams from your most engaged fans.
Release Radar triggers algorithms: Strong Release Radar performance signals interest to Spotify's algorithm, potentially triggering Discover Weekly placements and other algorithmic recommendations.
Playlist adds compound impact: When playlist placements add streams on top of pre-save/Release Radar streams, the combined engagement creates stronger algorithmic signals.
Workflow: Run pre-save campaign (via distributor tools) simultaneous with playlist pitching. Aim for 100-200 pre-saves plus 5-10 playlist placements for meaningful release-day momentum.
Using Spotify For Artists Analytics
Post-release analytics inform future playlist targeting:
Playlist sources: Spotify for Artists shows which playlists are driving streams. Identify high-performing playlists and note their follower counts, genres, and curators for future targeting.
Listener demographics: Age, gender, and geographic data help refine targeting. If your listeners are 70% in the UK, prioritize UK-focused curators.
Listening behavior: Save rates, skip rates, and completion rates indicate track quality and audience fit. High save rates suggest strong engagement; high skip rates may indicate genre mismatch.
Discovery sources: See whether listeners found you through algorithmic playlists, user playlists, search, or external sources. This shows which promotion channels are working.
Analyzing Playlist Performance
Not all playlist placements deliver equal value. Use analytics to identify high-value curators:
Streams per placement: Calculate average streams generated per playlist add. Some 5,000-follower playlists outperform 50,000-follower playlists due to higher engagement.
Save rates: Playlists that drive saves are more valuable than playlists that drive passive plays. Saves trigger algorithmic recommendations.
Return listeners: Quality placements convert playlist listeners into artist followers who return for future releases.
Geographic patterns: Placements on region-specific playlists can concentrate streams in particular markets, useful for touring and regional promotion strategies.
Refining Target Playlists Based On Data
After your first release campaign, use data to improve targeting:
Double down on what works: If 3,000-5,000 follower indie playlists consistently perform, focus future campaigns there.
Identify audience segments: If analytics show strong response from listeners aged 25-34 in urban areas, target playlists with those demographics.
Adjust genre targeting: If acoustic playlists outperform rock playlists for your music, refine your genre positioning.
Track curator relationships: Curators who added previous releases and drove streams are prime targets for future releases. Build ongoing relationships.
Multi-Platform Considerations
While this guide focuses on Spotify, your distributor delivers to all platforms. Consider:
Apple Music: Has editorial playlist opportunities but less robust independent curator ecosystem. Focus on Spotify for user-generated playlist promotion.
YouTube Music: Valuable for discovery but different curator dynamics. YouTube favors content creators over pure music curators.
Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal: Smaller market shares but still valuable. These platforms are often overlooked, meaning less competition for playlist consideration.
Platform-specific analytics: Check each platform's analytics when available. Spotify is most robust, but other platforms provide useful data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Playlist promotion integrates with your distribution timeline. Upload to your distributor 2-3 weeks early for processing and editorial submission. Submit to Spotify editorial at least 7 days before release. Pitch user-generated playlists 4-6 weeks before release. Run pre-save campaigns simultaneously. Post-release, analyze Spotify for Artists data to identify high-performing playlists, listener demographics, and engagement patterns. Use these insights to refine targeting for future releases. The combination of editorial submission, user-generated playlist pitching, pre-save campaigns, and data-driven iteration creates compounding promotional momentum across releases.