Key Takeaways

• There exist independent playlist curators – users with big followings, and Spotify curators – those part of the editorial team
• Personalize your music submissions and follow curator guidelines to increase your chances of getting featured on playlists
• Consider both paid and free submission tools to maximize your chances of playlist placement

1. How to Submit Your Music to Spotify Playlist Curators

Regardless of who you’re submitting to, the process to submit music will be pretty straightforward if you come prepared. Here’s what you should have handy before you begin:

• Artist bio (independent playlists)
• Song description/pitch (both indie and editorial)
• Song genre/subgenre selections (editorial playlists)
• Links to your social media pages (independent playlists)
• List of accolades and accomplishments (editorial playlists)

Independent Playlists

The submission process differs slightly depending on who you submit to. An independent Spotify playlist curator will often be contacted directly via social media or email, thus you can add a very brief artist bio before your song pitch, and include links to your socials and website in the message. Even better if you have an electronic press kit for them to visit to understand you better as an artist. Some indie playlist curators do have online submission pages, in which case you should follow their guidelines. When you reach out, personalize your approach, demonstrate gratitude, and ensure that you share comprehensive details about your song.

Spotify Playlists

If you’re submitting to the official Spotify editorial team, you’ll notice that they ask you to fill out a detailed form where you’ll be asked to pitch yourself and your song in a 500 character-limit text box, before providing “tags” for what genre and mood your music fits in with best. This will help the team decide what editorial playlist your song could be added do. Begin this process through Spotify for Artists and aim to submit your unreleased tracks at least a fortnight in advance of its drop date.

While you’re able to only pitch one song per release until it’s available on Spotify—bear in mind that any alterations made after submitting but before the drop date may not be considered—the edit option remains open up until then. There are no assurances these changes will be acknowledged by editors post-submission.

2. Top Independent Spotify Playlist Curators to Submit Your Music To

Services such as Groover, SubmitHub, and PlaylistPush facilitate the process of submitting music to curators. Music marketing plays a crucial role in helping independent musicians effectively promote their music, and these curators are essential in this process.

Curators you can contact directly on Groover:

🔸 Electro Posé

Electro Posé is a curator with over 800k followers on Spotify who specializes in chill, relaxing, working, and dance music. His Spotify playlist “Chill Vibes 2024 🌙” has over 1.2 million likes. Get in touch here.

🔸 Soundsol

Soundsol is a Canadian curator with over 64K followers on Instagram and 195 public playlists on Spotify. They tend to add Hip-Hop, RnB, Indie Pop, House, and Indie Rock submissions to their playlists the most. Get in touch here.

🔸 Unity Records

Unity Records is a label that loves ElectroPop, Hip-Hop, Indie Pop, and French Rap. Their four most popular Spotify playlists (Indie & Alternative, Hot Hits World, Club Music 2024, and Best Alternative Soul & Rnb) each have between 45K and 404K followers. Get in touch here.

Submission Tools:

🔸 Indiemono

Indiemono champions the cause of independent music, providing a platform particularly beneficial for indie artists seeking to increase their streaming figures. The availability of a free submission tool simplifies and streamlines the process for musicians worldwide to submit their music effortlessly, garnering favor within the artist community.

🔸 Daily Playlists

The music enthusiasts who curate Daily Playlists provide a platform for discovering new music by maintaining an accessible submission process through their contact link, enabling artists to connect with an engaged audience effortlessly.

Spanning numerous genres, Daily Playlists ensures that various styles of music within the popular playlists spectrum are heard and appreciated.

🔸 Soundplate

Soundplate serves as a connector between artists and independent curators, fostering worldwide interactions with playlist creators to boost the likelihood of song inclusion.

To submit your music on Soundplate, simply follow their submission guidelines found within their contact link.

3. Popular Spotify Playlist Curators to Consider

Spotify playlists are a crucial gateway for independent and emerging artists to gain widespread exposure, thanks to their extensive followings and variety in styles. Getting your music heard by a wider audience through these popular curators is both and honor and a general career boost!

Among the leading Spotify playlist curators worth considering for submissions are Rizing Playlists, Work Hard Playlist Hard, and Spingrey. These platforms provide distinct avenues through which artists can engage with listeners effectively while achieving meaningful visibility within the music scene.

Rizing Playlists

With an extensive audience that encompasses a variety of musical tastes, Rizing Playlists presents itself as an ideal platform for artists aiming to reach a wide-ranging listenership.

Thanks to the efforts of curator Simon Field, the following of Rizing Playlists has expanded greatly, creating more chances for artists to engage with their audience.

Work Hard Playlist Hard

The Work Hard Playlist Hard campaign assists indie artists in obtaining visibility by enabling them to showcase their music to an enthusiastic audience eager for fresh and intriguing tunes. By presenting your work through this initiative, you can connect with a devoted collective of music aficionados on the lookout for new additions to their playlists.

Spingrey

Emerging artists are given the opportunity to showcase their talents through Spingrey, a platform dedicated to highlighting new talent. By submitting music through Patreon, these artists can access a wider audience in an innovative and easily accessible manner.

4. Paid vs Free Submission Tools

Artists have the option to utilize either paid or free submission tools to send their work to playlist curators. The paid services simplify finding appropriate curators and keeping tabs on submissions, which can be advantageous. If budget is an issue, artists might opt for free methods even though they may result in less engagement.

It’s important to consider both advantages and disadvantages when choosing between these options. Paid solutions come with comprehensive functionalities and often yield better results. Those who prefer not to spend money still have a shot at success by applying a more strategic approach with free tools.

5. Tips for a Successful Pitch to Playlist Curators

To successfully engage playlist curators, tailor your approach and present your content clearly. It’s important to be authentic in your interactions because genuine exchanges are more likely to result in an increase of followers for a Spotify playlist.

Keep the length of your pitch on the shorter side to keep the curator interested. You should only send one track link at first, since most curators must sift through messages quickly given the volume of submissions. Always reach out through their preferred communication channel, which is typically stated in their Spotify playlist details.

Should a curator respond, make sure you respond quickly. This strategy aids in cultivating lasting connections with curators, enhancing the chance they’ll support you and feature you on playlists again down the line.

6. Avoiding Scams and Fake Curators

Protect your music and reputation by steering clear of deceptive playlist accounts. It’s a warning sign when a playlist has an identical tally of listeners and streams because natural playlists usually have higher stream counts than listener numbers. If you notice a hefty follower count with all followers having streamed on the same day, be cautious as it may suggest fraudulent activity.

Exercise caution with curators who promise specific streaming figures as well. Actual track success relies on numerous unforeseeable elements. When curator followers don’t display real names or profile pictures, this could point to inauthentic followers—casting doubt that their playlists will offer any legitimate visibility for your music.

Genuine playlists can be recognized by their presence in the ‘Discovered On’ area within an artist’s Spotify profile—an endorsement not associated with phony playlists.

Summary

Submitting your tracks to curators of Spotify playlists is an effective strategy for expanding your reach and connecting with a broader audience. By grasping the significance of playlist curators, adhering to their guidelines for submissions, and developing an engaging pitch, you’re more likely to secure a spot on these coveted lists. It’s essential to avoid fraudulent schemes while seeking out opportunities to heighten the visibility of your music through various playlists.

Achieving success within the industry goes beyond merely getting featured on Spotify playlists. It also involves cultivating a devoted following that actively engages with your work. Employing the tactics discussed in this overview can bolster promotional efforts for your music and facilitate career advancement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit my music to Spotify playlist curators?

If you’re aiming to have your music featured on Spotify playlists, simply utilize the Spotify for Artists platform to submit tracks that have not yet been released, ensuring this is done at least a fortnight prior to their official release.

It’s important to tailor each submission specifically for individual curators in order to boost the likelihood of your music being selected.

What are the benefits of submitting to independent Spotify playlist curators?

Reaching out to independent Spotify playlist curators can significantly enhance your visibility as they often welcome fresh artists onto their playlists.

This method is an excellent strategy for connecting with a broader audience and ensuring that your music gains attention!

How can I avoid scams and fake playlist curators?

To avoid scams, keep an eye on playlists that have a strange balance of listeners and streams, and steer clear of curators promising guaranteed listens or with fake followers.

Real playlists will show up in your ‘Discovered On’ section, so use that as a guide!

What are the advantages of using paid submission tools?

Using paid submission tools can really simplify your process by helping you find the right curators quickly and keeping track of your submissions effortlessly.

It’s worth considering if you want to save time and increase your chances of success!

How can I maximize my music’s exposure through playlists?

Ensure that you select a standout track and verify the accuracy of your metadata before submitting it at least one week prior to maximize exposure for your music.

Securing verification on Spotify for Artists can significantly enhance your likelihood of featuring in playlists!

I Read also: How to get to Spotify Playlists

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Send your music to the playlists of your choice and boost your streams 🚀

L’article Submit to Spotify Curators: The Best Playlists to Boost Your Streams est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

With Spotify at the top of the list (far ahead of Apple Music, Amazon Music and Youtube Music), it is now becoming necessary for every artist and songwriter to make their work available on the platform and get a significant number of streams to make a living and further their career. In Q2 2026, Spotify reported 777 million monthly active users worldwide, 300 million of them Premium subscribers.

Streaming music market in 2023

So how is your music supposed to stand out from the millions of songs in the vast music collections these music streaming services host? Well, there’s no use in cheating by buying streams. Spotify detects artificial streams: they earn no royalties and don’t count in your stream numbers, and in repeated or flagrant cases your distributor can remove your music or suspend your account. That’s why it’s important to build up your visibility on the platform in a progressive and organic way. Fortunately, there are more and more powerful tools to help you grow your Spotify streams organically.

Are you looking to get into Spotify playlists? ⬇️

Here are 7 tips for you to increase Spotify streams without cheating, and finally stand out from the crowd.

1. Analyze Your Streams Using Spotify For Artists

By creating a Spotify for Artists account, your artist page will be verified instantly, which only adds to your credibility. You’ll then have access to all sorts of great features like the ability to customize your page the way you want to present it, but more importantly streaming data that will tell you everything you need to know about the location, gender, and age of your listeners, and their streaming trends over time. Keep track of this data as much as possible and try to note patterns that may be useful in your promotion or marketing strategy. This feature is completely free and allows you not only to know who’s listening to your music, but also to get an overview of which songs are most popular with your listeners and to what extent. You can also see how Spotify rates a given track with our free Spotify popularity score checker.

| Also read: Spotify for Artists – The Ultimate Guide to Boost Your Streams

Spotify for Artists has also developed new paid advertising formats available in the “Campaigns” tab to artists who are really starting to build up their audience on Spotify in order for them to help them get more streams:

• “Marquee” takes the form of a pop-up/window that highlights your new release to your listeners and followers. Available within 21 days of a release, with at least 5,000 monthly listeners and 1,000 streams in the last 28 days in the targeted country.
• “Showcase” is a tool that will recommend your latest releases or catalog via a banner on Spotify’s mobile homepage. Available from 1000 listens over the last 28 days in a targeted country.
• “Discovery Mode”, not accessible to all artists & distributors, and only above 25,000 monthly listeners, enables a track released at least 30 days ago to be pushed more strongly in Spotify’s algorithmic playlists.

If you don’t have enough listens to benefit from these campaigns, don’t worry. There’s much more you can do to expand your streaming audience.

2. Create Your Own Playlists to Promote Your Music

Boosting your overall Spotify streams is a great way to get your music into editorial playlists (the ones made by Spotify with a ton of followers), but these require a formal pitch prior to release. If you want playlist adds a while after your last release, you can contact independent curators – they’re the ones running the show. You can use platforms such as Groover to contact indie playlist curators directly, but you can also create your own playlist.

Spotify doesn’t differentiate one playlist add from another, whether it’s your own account or not. This means that creating playlists that include your own music on Spotify informs the algorithm that your music is being saved by a user. This will improve your chances of showing up on algorithmic playlists, and will also tell the algorithm to associate you with the other artists in the playlists.

Personal Spotify playlists by The XX, Frank Ocean, Clairo et King Krule

You can also create curated playlists based on a mood or specific themes, and include songs from bands and musicians that inspire you and have influenced your music. Don’t overdo it by inserting too many personal songs, because the challenge here is to stay authentic and share your music library with your fans and potential future listeners. Another trick is also to collaborate with other musicians on a playlist. When you do this, you expose your playlist (and your songs) to a larger audience, which means more fans and more Spotify streams.

Think about what your listeners, or you as a listener, would want from curated playlists. Put yourself in your fans’ shoes and figure out what context they’re listening to music in. If they are studying, going on a run, working out, pregaming – create this vibe for your audience. But don’t forget, you are unique, so make playlists about how you would like them for yourself, NOT for other people. This will definitely work in your favor.

It is essential to add tracks to these playlists on a regular basis because your followers will be notified each time you update them. This then leads your listeners to go to your profile, which contributes to an increasing number of visitors on your profile, and thus, more streams.

Also, Pro tip! When people look up your Spotify playlist they listen to the first 3-5 songs before deciding if they want to follow. Make sure these are your absolute favorite ones in the playlist.

Read also : How to create your own playlist on Spotify and gain followers ?

3. Be Active on Social Networks to Increase Spotify Streams

It cannot be overstated. It is of the utmost importance to maintain a communication channel with your fans and keep them updated on your music news.

Become a musical guru for your fans while promoting your own songs!

Promoting new tracks on your various social networks, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and the like is a great way to engage your community and drive traffic to your Spotify profile. The best way to attract new listeners through socials is by posting exclusive content (covers, BTS, live versions and more) that sparks curiosity and makes them want to listen to the final result. Include your Spotify artist page in your bio and make sure to include links whenever you’re promoting your music in your stories. Clicks are your friend! Some artists, like Stephen Sanchez or JVKE, even built their first audience on TikTok before it turned into Spotify streams, as our guide on getting noticed on Spotify shows.

| Read also: How to Gain New Followers on Instagram

4. Take Advantage of Spotify Ad Studio

Spotify Ad Studio (renamed Spotify Ads Manager in 2024) is an advertising platform that allows users to easily create and manage Spotify audio advertising campaigns. You can create audio ads of 30 seconds or less that (non-paying) Spotify users will hear during commercial breaks between songs. Each ad also contains a clickable image linked to the URL of your choice.

Keep in mind that these audio ads are by nature interrupting the listener’s experience. Imagine you are in your home listening to music online through an Echo, Alexa or Sonos … the last thing you would want is an ad to disrupt your playlist. Be clever about your audio ad and make it enjoyable for the listener. Make sure to stand out and give a new potential listener a positive first impression. Don’t be the reason why someone pays for a music subscription and chooses to go ad-free! Keep in mind that Spotify Premium users do not have audio ads served to them on the streaming music service.

Spotify Ad Studio

This new feature allows you to accurately track the flow and growth of your streams and target new listeners by location, demographic, and listening trends. Targeted ads are designed to increase Spotify streams by connecting artists with listeners who are likely to genuinely enjoy their genre, thereby increasing the probability of more organic Spotify plays.

Furthermore, Spotify Ad Studio provides analytics and feedback, enabling you to understand their audience better. This insight is crucial in helping you refine your strategy to boost Spotify plays continuously. As you adjust your campaigns based on real data, you’re more likely to attract organic Spotify plays, creating a loyal listener base.

| Check out: How to find an audience for your music: 7 Tips to boost your visibility

5. Use a Spotify Code

A Spotify code is a kind of QR code that you can add to any form of promotion imaginable that, when scanned, will direct users to a landing page of your choice. It’s possible to create Spotify codes for artist profiles, playlists, albums and songs – or anything that has a Spotify URL Use it on social media, websites, or even printed materials to put around your local area. Your fans can then scan the code using the Spotify app’s built-in scanner.

Spotify Code

The point of Spotify codes is to make it easier for listeners to find and play your music with just a quick scan. This convenience removes barriers for potential listeners, encouraging immediate engagement with your tracks. Furthermore, these plays are more likely to be organic Spotify plays, as they come from listeners who have actively chosen to engage with your music.

Another key benefit is the potential for your music to be shared, which will make your Spotify streams grow exponentially. If a fan enjoys your music, they can send your Spotify code to their own network, increasing your reach. This word-of-mouth promotion is invaluable, often translating into Spotify plays from new listeners who trust their friends’ recommendations.

There’s also a new feature on Spotify for Artists that allows you to share your music directly from the platform with Promo Cards.

Promo Cards – Spotify for Artists

6. Integrate Spotify Plugins & Pre-Save Links in All Your Media

Spotify plugins/players and the use of the ‘follow’ button allows fans to access and listen to your music directly through your website. When a user clicks the subscribe button on your Spotify account, they instantly follow all your activity on the platform and notified when something new happens, such as when you post new tracks or play gigs near a user’s location. It works with any HTML-enabled website, and it’s easy to embed. Non-Spotify subscribers will be able to enjoy a 30-second preview of your track, and it’s an easy way to get more exposure and increase Spotify streams.

Another great strategy is to use pre-save links in the weeks leading to a new music release. When listeners pre-save your track on Spotify, they automatically start following your profile and the track shows up in their library on drop day. They’ll also find your release on their Release Radar algorithmic playlist. Learn more about getting on Spotify algorithmic playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly.

7. Get Heard by Playlisters

In order to do this, it is imperative that you know what audience you are addressing – make sure you know where you music stands. As an emerging artist, the best way to get more streams is to appear on playlists managed by music influencers and indie playlisters. These curators usually specialize in a niche and have the potential to share your music with your future biggest fans. The more you appear in user-generated playlists, the more likely you are to get into Spotify algorithmic and editorial playlists.

So the question is, how do you get into user-generated playlists? Here are the two strategies we recommend:

• Use Groover, get your music listened to, and get placements by playlist curators

Contacting the editorial teams of radio stations, podcasts, bloggers or labels/record labels directly is often tedious and almost never fruitful. With Groover, you can contact the best independent playlists and be assured that you’ll be listened to, get feedback on your music, and make connections with the influencers who will share your music with their following. To make it easy for you, we’ve set up a special category to help you find them in the filters from the media selection page:

Get into Spotify playlists with Groover

• User-generated playlists, also known as independent playlists

1. On Spotify, check out profiles of artists who have between 1,000 and 50,000 listeners per month – including the ones in your “Similar Artists” tab
2. Go to “Overview” ⇒ “Fans also like”
3. In “About” → “Discovered On”…
4. Once you see the playlists that bring them the most streams, aim for the ones that are not created by Spotify and you might have a chance to get added, too

This is basically how Groover invites the top playlists to join their curator community! You may save a lot of time while being guaranteed that your music is going to get listened to by choosing the most relevant independent playlists for you through Groover.

| Check out: How to use Groover to promote your music with success

| To go further : How to get on Spotify Playlists ?

Examples of Spotify playlists in which New Bleach has appeared

User-generated playlists help you to boost Spotify plays by creating a sense of community and connection with your audience. Listeners often trust the curator’s taste, and by extension, any new artist featured in the playlist. This trust can boost Spotify plays.

Another key aspect is the potential for organic Spotify plays. Being featured in a playlist means that the song is likely to be played repeatedly, not just by one listener, but by many who follow or stumble upon the playlist. The algorithm favors this authentic success, and you’ll be suggested to more listeners, winning you even more genuine Spotify plays.

Another underrated aspect of playlists is that they can boost Spotify plays over a long period. Once a song is included in a playlist, it can continue to be listened to by new audiences discovering the playlist.

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To get in touch with the best independent playlist curators for your music, get your music listened to and optimize your chances to get it placed, try Groover today 🤘

L’article How to Get More Spotify Streams Without Cheating: 7 tips to stand out from the crowd est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Despite being a behind-closed-doors legal issue, the reasons for the feud between UMG and Tik Tok are actually quite interesting. It all has to do with copyright – who owns the music, and who has the rights to use it. As you can guess, the answer to the former is not the artists themselves. 

1. Who Owns The Music

UMG (Universal Music Group) is one of the biggest music labels in the world, and has possibly the most impressive artist roster in the industry. Their artists include:

• Drake
• Rihanna
• Justin Bieber
• Ariana Grande
• The Weeknd
• Taylor Swift
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Kendrick Lamar
• Noah Kahan
• Lana Del Ray
• Billie Eilish

… and so many more superstars, it’s astonishing. 

Signing to a label is the industry norm because of how many services they provide for artists (distribution, promotion, marketing, advertising, funding projects, overseeing legal affairs, etc), but a grand majority of the time, it comes at the cost of the artists’ control over what they make. Very often, when artists sign a contract with a major label, they sign away ownership of their music. Labels pay for studio time and project costs, making any recordings done under contract their property.

Big artists such as the ones listed are no exception. The more successful you are, the bigger the scope of your projects becomes. It is common for artists who started independently to transition to a label contract because the magnitude of their projects and albums demands the larger funds and powerful network that only the biggest players in the industry have. So, in layman’s terms, major labels give artists all the resources they need to make and release their music in exchange for ownership of it. They then control where the music is used and who has a license to use it, and UMG has decided to leave Tik Tok out of the equation by not granting them the license that allows them to use their artists’ music. It is illegal to use music without a license due to copyright laws, so Tik Tok is out of luck here.

2. Who Has the Rights to Use It

Music copyright exists in a number of forms, but this case only concerns one of them: the master recording. When a song is created and fixed in a tangible form (on paper, in a notes app, as a voice memo, truly any form), it automatically has its own copyright. This is the composition copyright of the piece, which is made up of the lyrics and melody separately, as well as the lyrics and melody paired together, which is the composition. When the song is recorded, mixed, mastered, and reaches its final form before release, the final version is called the master recording (or just “master”).

This is the file that gets distributed to streaming services, radio stations, social platforms, and anywhere else you may hear music – like Tik Tok. In order for platforms to legally use the master in any capacity, the rights to the music must be cleared by the owner. This comes in the form of an agreement on a license between label and platform. The platform is given the license to use the master in exchange for royalties (payment per stream, video, etc). These royalties are then redistributed to artists, with the label and streaming service keeping a big chunk of it before artists get their share. 

What is being restricted by UMG is thus the master recordings from their catalog. Technically, you could still be hearing some Rihanna or Ariana floating around the app, but what you are hearing is an altered version of the song in question. Any perceptible difference from the original version makes it a different recording, and thus legal to use. You’ll find that it’s actually common practice on the app to slightly alter an official song; sped up versions of songs have become hugely popular (so much so that labels have been pushing artists to release sped up versions themselves to receive royalties from those too, especially when they go viral), slowed down versions are used for edits, and covers are absolutely everywhere. These changes are the legal loopholes that might explain why some of the songs that were pulled with the rest of UMG’s catalog are still around in some capacity.

3. Where The Revenue Goes

Royalty structures differ by platform and service, and it seems as though UMG took issue with Tik Tok’s payment plan. As of right now, Tik Tok pays $0.03 for every video that uses a creator’s song. This would mean that a sound would need to be used in roughly 34,000 separate videos a month in order to pay the equivalent of a month’s salary with a minimum wage job in the US. That’s a lot of videos, and when put in those terms, not a great look for Tik Tok. However, the platform is simultaneously the most opportunity-offering social media there is. Your chances of going viral on Tik Tok are unquestionably higher than on any other platform due to their feed structure (not having to follow someone to be shown their videos) and algorithm (having a very personalized feed). Not only that, but it’s free. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you are promoting your music through the same means as the biggest artists in the world, and the potential to go viral is genuinely realistic. It is one of the best tools to promote your music, hands down. 

You could argue that in pulling its discography, UMG is looking out for its artists, pushing for a more fair means of compensation for all the attention they bring to Tik Tok. However, once you consider how powerful and wealthy the label and its artists already are, you are left with the possibility that it may be something other than a lack of fairness. The value these artists get from having their music on Tik Tok is not the money, it’s the popularity and virality. Young audiences are able to seamlessly integrate newly released pop music into the culture through memes, trends, and dances like we’ve never seen before. This quickly converts into streams, which is where payout really matters. The free promotion Tik Tok provides for artists and the time it saves the labels by doing so without their involvement far outweighs the con of being paid slightly less than what UMG would like. What was once a mutually beneficial deal has turned into a rather unnecessary parting of ways. 

4. Room To Breathe

There is one upside to this situation, however. The hole left in the absence of the aforementioned artists leaves an enormous amount of room for independent artists to take over the Tik Tok soundscape. Users will crave music no matter what, and if the biggest players in the game are benched, they will turn their attention towards smaller artists to fill the gaps. Now more than ever, indie artists will be getting more recognition, and the possibility of going viral is at an all time high. Whether you’ve been using the platform to promote your music for a while, or were only just considering it, use this time to your advantage! Make content and share your music as much as you can while people are on the prowl for new sounds and new songs.

We could go back and forth about all the reasons why UMG would pull their catalog from Tik Tok all day, but it is unquestionably a decision that will prove detrimental to both label and platform in the long run. The lesson artists can take from this ordeal is that ownership is important, and will ultimately determine how much say you have in your career. For now, let’s put the spotlight on artists who don’t have the support of a label behind them. The moment confidence and consistency pay off is right now – we can’t wait to see where they take you.

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Want to promote your music? 👇

L’article UMG, Tik Tok, and the Copyright Fight est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Just check out the LinkedIn post by Spotify’s founder and CEO highlighting the importance of independent and third-party playlists ⬇️

Independent curators differentiate themselves by offering a human touch to music curation.

This article explores the reasons why independent Spotify playlist curators are more relevant than ever in the current state of the music industry.

1. Introduce New Music to Listeners

One of the primary reasons why independent Spotify playlist curators are so instrumental in shaping what we listen to is their ability to introduce new music to listeners. With the vast amount of music available on streaming platforms, it can be difficult for emerging artists to gain visibility. Independent playlist curators specialize in discovering hidden gems and curating playlists that cater to specific genres, moods, or themes. These curators provide a platform for new-music discovery, offering a valuable opportunity for both listeners and artists.

Gaining visibility as an emerging artist can seem near impossible in the face of the over 100,000 new tracks uploaded to Spotify daily. Really, catching the eye of an independent playlist curator is all it takes. They specialize in discovering the hidden gems buried in the vast array of music available on Spotify, curating playlists that cater to specific genres, moods, emotions, or very niche listener profiles. The themes of such playlists attract like-minded people, providing a means of new music discovery and offering a valuable opportunity for both listeners and artists to connect.

Want to get in touch with playlist curators? ⬇️

2. Independent Spotify Playlist Curators Act as Tastemakers

Typically, the gap between artist and potential audience is bridged by the big players in the industry; major labels. What we hear and see is often shown to us very strategically, and popular music thus remains popular. However, independent playlist curators are some of the very few who genuinely hold power in directing popularity and success towards artists of their choice without the influence of the business. They act as tastemakers, carefully selecting tracks that resonate with their followers, and by doing so, build a public following that trusts their judgment and music choices. By featuring an artist’s music on a popular playlist followed by devoted listeners, curators help expose that artist to a broader audience, increasing their chances of converting a listener to a supporter. This exposure can be a turning point in an artist’s career, leading to new fans, collaborations, and even record deals.

3. Boost an Artist’s Streaming Numbers and Royalties

Independent Spotify playlist curators also serve as a crucial means for artists to earn more royalties and generate revenue. Streaming services like Spotify pay artists based on the number of plays their songs receive, so being included in popular playlists can significantly boost an artist’s streaming numbers. Thus, financial payout will accrue in tandem with the increased traffic on an artist profile as royalties will accumulate over time. More profile clicks and listens may also attract the attention of record labels and other music industry professionals who may be scouting for new talent.

4. Contribute to The Diversity and Democratization of The Music Industry

The tastemaking abilities of independent playlists serve as more than just a means of spotlighting lesser known artists and genres. Independent playlist curators are crucial actors in contributing to the diversity and democratization of the music industry. Traditional record labels often prioritize mainstream artists, leaving independent and underground artists struggling to gain recognition.

However, playlist curators are not bound by the restrictions imposed by major labels. They have the freedom to support independent artists and showcase a wide range of genres, thereby promoting musical diversity and providing listeners with a refreshing alternative to mainstream music. No ties to the business also allows for direct contact with artists and listeners; it is entirely possible to get in touch with a curator as an artist and ask them to check out your music. The chances of your message being seen and responded to by a curator compared to a label head or A&R are significantly higher, making the accessibility of such an opportunity completely within reach for up and coming artists. Contrary to the algorithm-based playlists offered by platforms like Spotify, independent curators offer a human touch to music curation, often selecting their songs based on the emotional value of the piece and whether it fits the theme of their playlist as opposed to listener profiles and individual listening history. Algorithms analyze data to create personalized playlists, while independent curators apply their expertise, preference, and passion for music to curate playlists. In doing so, they offer an authentic listening experience that AI playlists do not.

Conclusion

As music streaming platforms remain the primary means of engaging with the music industry, independent Spotify playlist curators prove indispensable. They provide a way for artists to be heard, help listeners discover new music, contribute to artists’ stream revenue, promote musical diversity, and offer a carefully curated listening experience. In a crowded digital landscape, independent curators continue to make a significant impact, making them an essential component of the ever-evolving music business.

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Let’s start promoting your music ⬇️

L’article Why Independent Spotify Playlist Curators Matter So Much ? est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Most Spotify consumption, both for ad-free listeners and for music subscribers, comes through playlists. These are three main types of playlists on Spotify: user-generated independent playlists, algorithmically-generated playlists (such as Discover Weekly, Radio, Release Radar), and editorial playlists. Platforms like Groover allow you to contact curators of user-generated playlists, which grow more organically, meaning that these playlists are shared by listeners and fans rather than advertised by Spotify itself (such as by being recommended on the Spotify homepage). These independent playlists can help artists increase in popularity, which gives them more visibility that can result in a Spotify playlist add. Similarly, being reviewed on music blogs can result in adds to Spotify playlists like Fresh Finds, whose content pool is generated in part by crawling blogs for up-and-coming tracks and artists.

The playlists on Spotify — outside of algorithmic playlists — with generally the most followers, are Spotify editorial playlists. These curated playlists are highly coveted given their massive audience. These playlists are advertised to millions of listeners across the app. Some of these playlists are a hybrid between editorial and algorithmic, meaning though the tracks are all selected by one individual, but they won’t all be shown to every subscriber. Instead, based on each listener’s taste, they will see a selection of those hand-picked tracks that are closest to their musical taste. This is important to note when sharing an editorial playlist you’re on, as not all listeners will see your track – Spotify offers a way to “pin” your track to the top when sharing a link to it, though.

So, how can you get on a Spotify editorial playlist that can launch your career to new heights, and allow new fans to discover you (thanks to their powerful algorithms)? How can you increase your chances of gettin people to listen again and again, to get your songs liked and your artist profile followed so listeners get notified of your new-music and become lifelong fans?

Spotify, the reigning leader of music streaming

The numbers speak for themselves. Despite significant growth in competition (Apple Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Tidal, and YouTube Music), Spotify remains the undisputed king of music streaming representing 36% of the market and with over 433 million registered subscribers (including over 188 million paid subscribers) as of September 2022.

Here is a comprehensive guide to getting the most out of Spotify for Artists, promoting your music, and increasing your streams and visibility.

1. Spotify for Artists: The Best Way to Gain Followers

Spotify is more than just a music service that pays out royalties when someone plays your track; it’s a platform where music fans go to find new artists to love. When you put your tracks on Spotify, your fans can find your music from a number of paths, including by…

• Searching for your artist name, album, or track
• Streaming algorithmic playlist recommendations
• Hearing your music in thematic curated playlists, such as genre or mood-based playlists (e.g. Study Beats, Songs to Sing in the Car)
• Seeing your name/track on the Friends Activity bar (on desktop)
• Re-accessing a track by you that they saved to their music collection
• Receiving a notification about your newest release (if they follow you)

That’s a lot of ways for people to find your music and for you to see your number of Spotify followers grow! As Spotify is a global platform with a “freemium” model, meaning it reaches both ad-free users and subscribers (including those on a family-plan), the reach is not limited to those who can afford a monthly subscription fee.

It’s important to note that Spotify algorithms use a number of different inputs that can affect the reach of your music. For example, if an artist follows you, it guarantees that they will see your latest release in the algorithmically-generated Release Radar playlist, as well as in the “What’s New” section (the bell icon on the top-right of your Home Screen). It also increases your chances that the track or album will be displayed on the top section of fans’ homepages. Thus, encouraging artists to follow you on Spotify can be critical to expanding your influence.

That being said, streaming without following is still important! If an artist streams your tracks, they’re more likely to hear your music across the app, such as in Artist or Tracks Radios, Discover Weekly, and Artist, Genre, and Mood Mixes. Though the algorithm is a “black box” in that Spotify does not exactly reveal its secret sauce, the playlists usually use factors like how much you’ve streamed an artist recently, whether they’ve liked the track or added it to a playlist, and whether your music is similar to other music they like. These factors help determine whether Spotify will show a listener your track in a playlist.

How your songs reach listeners depends on how you put yourself forward

You shouldn’t expect algorithms to do your job for you: getting your tracks out there takes effort! In addition to promoting your music, it’s important to showcase yourself. If your message and aesthetics aren’t unique, you’ll lose an opportunity to gain a new fan. Even if your tracks don’t have music videos, creating a 3-second to 8-second looping video “Canvas” can help showcase who you are, and provide an entertaining form of content for listeners on streaming services. You can have a look at our article explaining how to create one. 

Below, we describe more actions you can take on your own to gain new fans and increase your streams. Let’s start with the first step: certify your artist profile with Spotify for Artists.

2. How to make a Spotify artist account?

Once your music is on Spotify, all you need to do is access Spotify for Artists to be certified and get the famous blue tick on your Spotify profile. No need to fill out a form or have 250 subscribers: verification is now available for all artists.

To claim your Spotify artist profile, follow these six steps:

1. Go to the Spotify for Artists homepage
2. Click on “Request your profile”
3. Select either the artist or the manager, depending on your relationship to the project
4. Copy the link from your artist page via the share button in the Spotify app
5. Enter the artist link in the search bar
6. Request access to Spotify for Artists and verify your identity by logging in to your music project’s social network accounts

Pretty simple, isn’t it? Verification times vary, but Spotify usually takes 2-6 weeks to complete the verification process. Once you’ve claimed your profile, you’ll have access to all the statistics, promotional tools and profile customization options that Spotify offers. You’ll be able to see your number of streams, analyze your audience, and find out who’s listening to your music on Spotify.

3. Spotify for Artists: Some Tips for Completing Your Profile

• Your Biography

A verified profile allows you to showcase your unique personality. Once you have claimed your profile, you will be able to upload your personal profile photos, a photo gallery, and a profile banner. In addition, you will be able to tell your story (maximum 1500 words) in your artist biography. Using a tone that’s reflective of who you are can be engaging and fun for fans, so don’t be afraid to be yourself!

Writing a music biography can be difficult, but there are a few things you need to cover to introduce your project to the person discovering your profile. Give your audience a brief overview of your background, your music, and a few words about your latest project. Excerpts and quotes from the press are also good options to flesh out your musical biography. Above all, don’t forget to include links to your social networks so that you can be found more easily and grow your community of fans!

• Your Concert Dates and Merchandise 

One of Spotify’s features for artists also allows you to enter the dates of your upcoming gigs directly on your profile and redirects fans directly to SongKick to buy the ticket. When a listener follows to your artist profile, they’ll have access to your gig dates. In the Concerts/Live Events section of the Spotify app, people who have streamed your music are likely to find your upcoming shows listed.

You can also include visuals and links to your merchandise. Keep your information up to date and you’ll hopefully sell more concert tickets, merch, and vinyl. These provide a great supplementary means of income to music-streaming, as royalties from streaming alone can be hard to sustain a career if you’re just starting out.

• The “Artist’s Pick” Feature

One of Spotify for Artists’ main features — and certainly the most strategic for you to update regularly — is the “Artist’s Pick”. This feature gives you the possibility to choose a song, an album, your next concert date or a playlist to pin to the top of your artist page with a short message. This is your opportunity to personalize your profile and share your inspiration or simply your “hot news”.

• The “Artist Playlists” Feature

You can also curate personal playlists called “Artist Playlists”, which allows you to gather all your inspirations of the moment as well as your top tracks in one playlist. Fans who search for you often enjoy understanding what’s inspired you, just as you likely enjoy knowing what your favorite artists are jamming to!

These tools are designed to encourage your fans to keep coming back to your profile. But they only work if you update them regularly.

4. Promote your Tracks Intelligently with Spotify’s Data Analysis for Artists

Knowing the details about who is listening to your music and where it is being listened to is important when planning an album launch, tour or digital marketing campaign.

It is understandable as an artist to put musical creation before anything else, but that doesn’t make it any less important to understand how your music is spreading. And it’s especially worth it if you want to broaden your audience. Like similar tools being offered by Apple Music and SoundCloud, Spotify for Artists help you understand how your fans interact with your music.

You can export some Spotify for Artist statistics as .csv files and get :

• Chronological statistics in Audience
• Your table of songs in Songs
• Your table of featured playlists in Playlists

IMPORTANT : The number of streams on Spotify is counted when a song is streamed for more than 30 seconds. 

Thanks to Spotify for Artists, you can also:

• Get an overview of your monthly and/or daily listeners
• Analyze the engagement of your fans
• Know who’s listening to your music
• Know how people listen to and discover your tracks
• Discover where your fanbase is located

It’s extremely valuable to know where your music is most popular, where you’re expanding your audience, what songs people like most, when you’re added to playlists or when your listeners press the “play” button. Of course, it’s even better if you can get your statistics on all streaming platforms, so make sure you check out SoundCloud and Apple Music Analytics, among others, to get the full picture. 

Knowing where you’re getting traction can help you understand where to tour, who to pitch to, and can even give you ideas as to how to expand creatively to meet a new market of fans. Given how global music is, it might surprise you how many fans aren’t just local to you!

We suggest using the data to look into the following (among other things — the possibilities really are endless!):

• If you’re growing in a region, start pitching to blogs, playlists, media outlets, etc. in that area to build the momentum – you can do this easily on platforms like Groover
• If you’re a touring musician, consider playing gigs in areas where you’re most popular. Not only will you sell more tickets and further spread your name, but you’ll have incredible experiences seeing packed venues in areas that aren’t your hometown!
• Look for festivals in nearby areas to where there’s hype around your music (On Groover, you can apply free to springboards that can enable you to play at festivals worldwide)

👉 All the independent Spotify playlists available on Groover are listed here

5. Understand the Challenges of Streaming and Master Tools like Spotify for Artists to Gain Subscribers

Two decades ago, downloading music to one’s music library (and, sadly, pirating music as well) was extremely popular. iTunes and Napster were only overtaken by Spotify and streaming services in the 2010s, meaning that streaming is truly still a developing landscape that will continue to change over time. It’s important to keep yourself up-to-date on what new things Spotify introduces or changes, since it can have a big impact on your career as an artist.

Given the magnitude of the shift from physical music, downloading mp3s, and listening on radio-stations to streaming music online, many people have strong opinions on Spotify and other similar services. Streaming platforms and digital distribution are very hot topics in the music industry right now. But whether or not you’re involved in the debate, the reality is that these platforms can connect you to new listeners.

No matter how much you earn per stream, you should always think about how your project will connect with your listeners and create new fans. Taking advantage of the marketing and promotional tools offered by platforms like Spotify for Artists is a great way to stand out from the crowd and make yourself known. A good way to connect with new fans is also to add lyrics and canvas on your music on Spotify.

We also recommend using Groover to connect with independent playlists, reach new audiences and earn streams. You can track your independent playlist entries directly on Spotify For Artists to see how these playlists are expanding your audience 😉

– Article written by Amy Cimpaye in its original version, translated by Mackenzie Leighton –

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Next articles:

> How to submit music to playlists?
> How to use Spotify Canvas to add looping videos to your music?
> How do I get featured on Spotify’s editorial playlists?
> How to grow your own playlist and gain followers?
> How much do artists get paid on Spotify?
> How to get on Spotify playlists?

To go further:

> 7 Tips to stand out from the crowd and get more streams on Spotify

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To increase your visibility of your musical project, check out Groover ⭐️

L’article Spotify for Artists: The Ultimate Guide to Boost your Streams est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.