10 Real Tips to Get on Spotify Playlists (and Actually Be Heard) 🎧

You’ve got a banger on your hands; the mix is tight, the hook slaps, and your friends keep saying, “Bro, this belongs on a playlist.” But then reality hits... how do you actually make that happen?

Getting your song featured on a Spotify playlist can feel like trying to sneak into the VIP section of a sold-out show. It’s not impossible, but you gotta know how to move and how to knock on Spotify playlist curators doors.

In today's music industry, you don't need to sign with a major label to get your music heard; all of the tools are available at your disposal.

If you’re serious about growing streams and taking your music career past your bedroom speakers, this guide’s for you. I’m breaking down ten real, no-BS Spotify promotion tips to help you get your tracks on playlists — and keep them there.

The methods mentioned in this article works for hip hop artists, pop, rock, dance or any other music genres.

1. Understand the Three Types of Playlists

Before you hit “submit,” you'll need to understand the different type of playlists on Spotify.

Here’s the quick breakdown:

• Editorial playlists: These are made by Spotify’s in-house team, the big dogs. RapCaviar, Pop Rising, New Music Friday, those playlists. Getting in is hard, but not impossible.

• Algorithmic playlists: Like “Discover Weekly” or “Release Radar.” These are auto-generated based on listener behavior. The more people like and save your song early, the more these playlists notice.

• User-made playlists: These are run by independent curators, who are Spotify users that run playlists based on genre, activity, theme, soundtrack, or a musical decade. Some of these playlists are accepting music submissions.

If you’re new to this, start submitting your new music to user playlists. That’s the street-level grind where artists begin to build momentum before the algorithm (and Spotify editors) catches on.

It's the easiest way to get your music heard by playlist listeners.

2. Fix Your Metadata, Seriously

I know, it sounds boring, “metadata.” But it’s low-key one of the most important parts of Spotify music promotion. When you upload your music to the digital distributor, such as CDBABY, DITTO Music, or Distrokid, you have the option to choose your music genres, similar artists, moods, etc...

Your metadata tells Spotify (and curators) what your song actually is. If you label your trap anthem as “folk acoustic,” don’t expect it to show up in the right playlists.

Be honest and precise. If it’s “lofi chill beats with R&B vocals,” say exactly that. It’s not about overhyping; it’s about accuracy. The better your metadata, the better your chances of landing in the right place.

If you're not sure about your music genre, do your research, find similar independent artists, and investigate how they label their music genres.

3. Timing Is Your Secret Weapon

Spotify offers a way to submit your music to editorial playlists; this is done on your Spotify's artist profile.

Spotify needs at least seven days before your release date to even consider your submission for editorial playlists. But here’s the move: submit your song three to four weeks before release.

That gives you time to:

• Pitch your song to curators

• Run your Spotify promotion and music PR

• And line up Meta ads campaign to trigger Spotify algorithmic playlists

It doesn't mean you'll get accepted to editorial playlists, but it's worth a try. Don’t rush it. Treat your song like a launch, not a post.

4. Write a Pitch That Feels Real

When you submit through Spotify for Artists, they give you a box to describe your track. Most artists mess this part up.

They either write something robotic like:

“This is an energetic pop song with electronic elements.”

Or they go overboard with:

“This is the next big anthem that will change music forever.”

Both are trash.

Curators want authenticity. They want to know what the track sounds like, what it feels like, and who it’s for.

Try something like this instead:

“This track blends Afrobeat grooves with soulful R&B vocals. It’s inspired by Burna Boy and Tems, made for those late-night drives and chill vibes.”

That sounds like a real artist. It’s short, clear, and paints a picture.

5. Hype It Up Everywhere Else

Spotify curators don’t just look at what you submit. They notice what’s happening around your song.

If your track is trending on Spotify, TikTok, blowing up on Reels, or getting reposted on blogs, that’s a green flag. Most of the playlist curators' focus will go into your music quality, but if your track has traction and it's already working, that would also help in your playlist pitching process.

The goal? Make noise outside Spotify so curators and eventually the Spotify algorithm have no choice but to pay attention.

6. Connect With Independent Curators

There are thousands of user-curated playlists out there, and these folks are your real entry point.

You can manually DM curators (just… please don’t spam). When you do reach out, be human:

“Hey, I love your playlist ‘Late Night Chill Beats.’ I just dropped a new track that fits that vibe perfectly. Would love if you gave it a listen.”

That kind of message works way better than “Yo add my song, bro.”

Do NOT send an MP3 file or a song link if you're not asked to. We've seen artists sending MP3s via email without any introduction; that's lame and disrespectful to the curator.

Statistics are not very good when it comes to cold emails; most real playlist curators will ignore your email, but it's worth a try, and it costs nothing. Develop your curator network if you can; it's time-consuming and takes a lot of effort, but it might be useful in the future.

Alternatively, you can use a platform like One Submit that sends your song directly to Spotify playlists, YouTube music channels, radio stations, and TikTok influencers. Unlike reaching out to music curators by yourself and hoping for a response, these platforms guarantee a written feedback from the curator, and in some plans, like magazines, they guarantee placements.

7. Make Your Spotify Profile Look Like You Mean Business

Imagine this: a curator clicks on your song, and your Spotify profile looks half-empty. No bio, no picture, no links. That’s an instant “nah.”

Before you start pitching, clean up your artist page:

• Add a high-quality photo (something that looks like a real shoot, not a bathroom selfie)

• Write a short but personal bio.

• Add links to your Instagram, TikTok, or website

• Pin your newest single or best-performing track

You don’t need to look like a signed artist. You just need to look like you care.

It's completely free, and all it takes is time.

8. Don’t Ignore the Small Playlists

Everybody wants the big editorial playlists, “RapCaviar,” “Pop Rising,” “Fresh Finds.” But here’s the truth: those are end goals, not starting points.

Smaller playlists with 1,000–20,000 followers can do serious work for your streams. They build the early traction Spotify’s algorithm loves.

Land on a bunch of mid-sized playlists, and suddenly your song starts showing up on “Discover Weekly” and “Radio.” That’s how it happens: slow burn, steady growth, track by track.

Remember: 10 smaller playlists can outperform one giant playlist if the audience is real and genuine.

9. Don’t Ghost After Release Day

So many artists drop a song, post it once, and then disappear. Don’t be that person.

Spotify’s algorithm watches your activity for the first 28 days after release. That window decides whether your song gets pushed to more real listeners or dies quietly.

During that time:

• Keep sharing the song

• Tag every playlist that added it

• Thank curators

• Post fan reactions or comments

• Keep your Spotify playlist promotion rolling

The more interaction, the better your algorithmic chances. Keep the energy alive.

10. Be Consistent That’s the Real Flex

One good song can get you noticed. But consistent releases build careers.

Drop something every two or three months. Keep feeding your audience and the algorithm. Every new release gives you another shot at getting playlisted.

Consistency shows Spotify's algorithm that you’re serious. And it shows fans you’re here to stay.

11. Aim to Trigger Spotify's algorithmic playlists,

This is the real deal for the serious artists among you.

To build a real growing portfolio on Spotify, you'll need to trigger Spotify's algorithmnic playlists from the start. this means getting your music on Discover Weekly, Daily Mix and other algorithmic playlists, which will end up in a natrual organic grow to your music, after your music promotion camapign has ended.

It requires generating about 7,000 to 10,000 streams to your song in the first 10 days from the release date. Another factors also effect the algorithm decision, such as likes, followers, saves and replays.

It's not easy achieving this goal, especially if you're just getting started. In most cases you'll need. to combine Meta ads and playlist submission to reach this target, and obvisoluy, your song needs to be top notch and lovable.

In most cases, it requires budget and planning ahead.

You can read more in this artcile, about Facebook ads and music promotion

Bonus Tip: Don’t Fall for Fake Playlists

Quick PSA, if someone promises “10k guaranteed Spotify streams for $50,” run.

That’s bot traffic, and Spotify can tell. Fake plays might boost your ego for a week, but they’ll mess with your algorithm and could even get your track flagged.

Stick with verified curators or trusted music promotion services like One Submit, where submissions go to real humans, not fake playlists.

Your goal is real fans, not fake numbers.

The Real Game Plan

Getting on Spotify playlists isn’t magic. It’s a mix of patience, marketing, and just plain persistence.

If your first track doesn’t land, cool. Keep going. Every song release teaches you something: better production, tighter visuals, and smarter rollout.

And remember, playlists aren’t the only path. Combine your Spotify promotion with Meta Ads, YouTube music video promotion, and music blogs and magazines for publication. You’re not chasing one playlist; you’re building an entire career.

You can combine music promotion services like One Submit, Playlist Push, and other playlist submission platforms to trigger Spotify's algorithmic playlists; getting on those playlists will expose your music to brand new listeners and fans. Every successful song campaign paves the road to another song, which will get more attention by the algorithm, which will lead to exponential growth.

It's not easy, and not cheap, but this is the way professional artists release their song and promote it on the most important streaming platform in the world.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the truth: playlisting is just one part of music promotion, not the whole thing.

The artists who win are the ones who treat this like a long game. They don’t just upload a song and pray. They plan, promote, connect, and keep going—one release at a time.

So go ahead, get that next track ready, line up your submission, and start moving smart. Because the next playlist that could change your career is just one click away.