Release Radar is Spotify's personalized new music playlist updated every Friday featuring releases from artists you follow or frequently listen to. It prioritizes artists you have engaged with in the past 90 days through saves, playlist adds, or track completions. Artists maximize Release Radar reach by encouraging followers to engage with previous releases, running pre-save campaigns, and maintaining consistent release schedules that keep them in fans' active listening rotation.
TLDR: Release Radar automatically delivers your new releases to existing fans who follow you or have recently engaged with your music. Maximize reach by growing your follower count, driving engagement on recent releases, running pre-save campaigns (which trigger Release Radar adds), and releasing music consistently to stay in fans' active listening profiles. Pre-saves convert directly to Friday Release Radar placements.
Release Radar Eligibility Criteria
Release Radar eligibility is based on artist-listener relationships. Spotify identifies listeners who follow you, save your tracks, add your music to playlists, or complete your songs. When you release new music, those listeners receive your track in their Friday Release Radar playlist. The stronger the engagement history, the higher your track appears in their Release Radar ranking.
The 90-Day Engagement Window
90-day engagement window determines priority. Spotify weights recent listener activity heavily. If a fan listened to your music 3 months ago but has not engaged since, your new release appears lower in their Release Radar or may not appear at all. Fans who streamed your music in the past 2 weeks see your new release prominently. Maintain engagement by releasing consistently or staying active on social media.
Follower Count Impact On Reach
Follower count directly impacts Release Radar reach. When listeners follow your artist profile, they signal intent to receive your new releases. All followers receive your new tracks in Release Radar on release Friday. Growing your follower count through playlist placements, social media promotion, and concert performances expands your automatic Release Radar distribution.
Pre-Save Campaigns For Guaranteed Placement
Pre-save campaigns trigger guaranteed Release Radar placement. When fans pre-save your upcoming release through Spotify for Artists, DistroKid, or other pre-save platforms, Spotify automatically adds your track to their Release Radar on release day. This provides instant visibility and first-day streams from your most engaged fans. Target 100-200 pre-saves for meaningful Release Radar impact.
Release Timing Strategy
Release timing affects visibility. Spotify updates Release Radar every Friday morning. Releases scheduled for Friday optimize Release Radar placement because your track appears fresh in the playlist. Midweek releases must wait until the following Friday for Release Radar inclusion, delaying fan notification by several days.
Maintaining Release Consistency
Release consistency keeps you active in fan profiles. Artists who release quarterly or more frequently maintain active presence in fans' listening histories, increasing Release Radar priority. Fans who regularly engage with your releases develop stronger algorithmic connections, ensuring your new music appears prominently in their Release Radar even if months pass between listens.
How Previous Release Engagement Matters
Engagement with previous releases determines new release priority. If your last release had high save and completion rates from a listener, your next release will rank higher in their Release Radar. Conversely, if they skipped your previous tracks or did not engage, your new release appears lower or not at all. Focus on quality releases that drive saves rather than flooding listeners with quantity.
Release Radar Does Not Guarantee Streams
Release Radar does not guarantee streams. Placement in Release Radar does not mean fans will click and listen. Your track competes with 20-50 other new releases in each listener's Release Radar. Eye-catching cover art, compelling track titles, and strong artist branding increase click-through probability from Release Radar placements.
Amplifying Impact With Social Media
Social media promotion amplifies Release Radar impact. Announce your new release on Instagram, TikTok, and email the day before release Friday. Remind fans to check their Release Radar playlists on Friday morning. This call-to-action converts Release Radar placements into actual streams by directing fan attention to Spotify.
Release Radar Complements Active Promotion
Release Radar complements but does not replace active promotion. While Release Radar provides automatic distribution to existing fans, it does not grow your audience. Combine Release Radar with playlist pitching, social media promotion, and paid advertising to reach new listeners while retaining existing fans through Release Radar visibility.
How Playlist Pilot Grows Your Release Radar Reach
Playlist Pilot helps you grow the follower and engagement base that powers Release Radar reach. By securing playlist placements that drive saves and followers, the tool expands your Release Radar distribution for every subsequent release. Each placement converts listeners into followers, compounding your automatic Release Radar audience over time.