Music PR agencies offer hands-off playlist promotion for artists with budget. They leverage industry relationships to secure placements you might not get through DIY outreach. Here are the top 10 agencies specializing in Spotify playlist promotion.
When to Hire a PR Agency vs DIY
Hire an agency when you have $2,000+ budget, a major release, and limited time. Use DIY tools like Playlist Pilot when you want ongoing promotion, tighter budget control, and direct curator relationships. Many artists combine both: agency for big releases, DIY for singles and catalog tracks.
1. Cyber PR
Specialty: Indie artists across genres. Pricing: $2,500-5,000 per campaign. What they offer: Playlist pitching plus blog coverage, social media strategy, and branding. Known for personalized service and realistic expectations. Good for emerging artists with professional releases.
2. Planetary Group
Specialty: College radio + playlist promotion. Pricing: $2,000-4,000 per campaign. What they offer: Combines traditional radio promotion with modern playlist pitching. Strong college and indie rock focus. Good for artists targeting younger demographics.
3. Surefire PR
Specialty: Electronic and dance music. Pricing: $1,500-3,500 per campaign. What they offer: Deep connections in EDM, house, and techno playlist communities. Blog and premiere coverage included. Best for electronic producers.
4. Team Clermont
Specialty: Americana, folk, and roots music. Pricing: $2,000-4,500 per campaign. What they offer: Specialized in acoustic and roots genres often underserved by mainstream PR. Strong relationships with genre-specific curators and publications.
5. Terrorbird Media
Specialty: Indie rock and alternative. Pricing: $2,500-5,000 per campaign. What they offer: Established indie rock focus with playlist pitching to genre-specific curators. Blog coverage and playlist promotion combined.
6. Haulix
Specialty: Metal and heavy music. Pricing: $1,500-3,000 per campaign. What they offer: Niche focus on metal, hardcore, and heavy music. Connections to genre-specific playlist curators that mainstream agencies miss.
7. Big Hassle
Specialty: Major indie releases. Pricing: $5,000-10,000+ per campaign. What they offer: High-end agency for indie artists with label support. Strong editorial playlist relationships and major media connections.
8. Grandstand Media
Specialty: Full-service music PR. Pricing: $3,000-7,000 per campaign. What they offer: Comprehensive campaigns including playlists, radio, blogs, and podcasts. Good for artists wanting one agency handling everything.
9. Press Here Publicity
Specialty: Pop and R&B artists. Pricing: $2,000-5,000 per campaign. What they offer: Focused on mainstream-leaning pop and R&B. Good connections with playlist curators in those spaces.
10. Clarion Call Media
Specialty: Singer-songwriters and folk. Pricing: $1,800-3,500 per campaign. What they offer: Boutique agency focusing on acoustic and singer-songwriter genres. Personal attention and genre expertise.
DIY vs Agency: Cost Comparison
A typical PR campaign costs $2,000-5,000 for one release. Playlist Pilot's subscription costs $20-30/month with unlimited pitching. If you have time to research and pitch curators yourself, DIY tools deliver better ROI. Agencies make sense when your time is worth more than the cost difference.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
Ask for case studies with specific playlist placements (not just streams). Request references from artists in your genre. Clarify what 'success' looks like and what happens if they don't deliver. Understand the refund policy and timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do PR campaigns take? Most campaigns run 6-12 weeks. Playlist placements typically happen in weeks 2-6. Blog coverage may continue longer.
Can PR agencies guarantee placements? No legitimate agency guarantees specific placements. They can guarantee effort and access, not results.
What results should I expect? Expect 5-15 playlist placements per campaign depending on music quality and budget. Convert streams to followers for long-term value.
Summary
PR agencies provide hands-off playlist promotion for artists with $2,000+ budgets. Choose agencies specializing in your genre for best results. For ongoing promotion or tighter budgets, DIY tools like Playlist Pilot offer 90% cost savings with direct curator access. Combine both approaches for major releases.