How do I identify, contact, and manage relationships with playlist curators effectively?
TL;DR - Find ➜ Qualify ➜ Personalize ➜ Log ➜ Nurture
Pull a long-list of playlists that actually fit your genre, score each curator by reach × engagement × genre-fit, send a one-to-one pitch that shows you’ve heard their list, record every outcome in a simple CRM, and keep the relationship warm with periodic value— updates, reposts, or early exclusives.
CASE STUDY — “Velvet Signal”
Tool stack: Chartmetric export + Google Sheets + Notion CRM
Step Result
Long-list 280 playlists tagged “dream pop” (≥ 2 k followers)
Scoring rubric Reach, save-rate, genre-fit → 38 A-Tier targets
First-week outreach 38 emails → 14 replies → 7 adds
Relationship nurture Monthly “first-listen” Dropbox; 4 curators added two more tracks next release
60-day impact +62 k streams, +3 800 followers, cost: USD 0 (DIY time)
1 ▸ KNOW YOUR CURATOR TYPES
Type Typical Reach Contact Route Value Angle
Independent brand 10 k-500 k Email, IG DM, SubmitHub New music for niche audience
Micro-playlist creator 200-10 k IG/Twitter DM Shout-outs + mutual growth
Label / collective 20 k-1 M Form, manager email Potential signing / collab
Genre influencer 5 k-100 k TikTok/YouTube DM Content ideas + duet/stitch
User algorithm farmer 1 k-50 k Discord, Reddit Swap placements, cross-adds
2 ▸ IDENTIFY & QUALIFY CURATORS
Tools & sources
• Chartmetric / Soundcharts → export playlists by genre & follower count
• Spotify playlist description → curator IG/Twitter handle (≈ 50 % of cases)
• Groover / SubmitHub accepted-curator lists
• Reddit r/playlistsharing, Discord “playlist exchange” servers
• Hype Machine & blog playlists
Scoring rubric (1-10 each)
Genre fit (×3)
Engagement (save-rate, monthly listeners) (×2)
Reach (followers) (×1)
Cost (-1 if fee > USD 15)
Sort totals → A-Tier (top 20-40) / B-Tier (next 100) / Watchlist (rest).
3 ▸ FIRST CONTACT BEST PRACTICES
Email / DM template (≤ 120 words)
Subject: Loved the sax drop in “Late Night Lofi” 🎷
Hi [First Name],
I’m Velvet Signal (shoegaze × dream pop). “Echo Parade” hits 98 BPM / G-maj and sounds right next to Men I Trust in your list. Private link below—shout if it vibes. Happy to cross-promote Late Night Lofi on my IG (14 k followers).
Thanks for curating gems every week!
– V.
Tips
• Name–drop a track or detail that proves you listened.
• One private link, no attachments > 2 MB.
• Offer a win for the curator (tag, repost, early drop).
• Finish with a clear ask: “consider adding” / “open to feedback”.
4 ▸ LOG & TRACK RELATIONSHIPS
Field Example
Playlist / Curator Name Late Night Lofi
Channel / Handle IG @lofibeatsalex
Tier / Score A-12
First Pitch Date 2025-09-14
Outcome Added / Declined / TBD
Next Touchpoint 2025-10-12 (new single)
Notes Likes dream-pop guitars
Use Google Sheets, Airtable, or Notion. Update status after every reply, add, or decline.
5 ▸ NURTURE & RETAIN CURATORS
Monthly rhythm
• Send exclusive early link 7-10 days pre-release.
• Share their playlist in your Stories; tag them.
• Offer stems or remix packs for their audience.
• Celebrate milestones (“Thanks for pushing us to 100 k streams!”).
• Light holiday note or personal check-in twice a year.
6 ▸ METRICS & TARGETS
Metric Target
Reply rate (A-Tier) ≥ 35 %
Add rate (replies) ≥ 40 %
Save-to-stream on adds ≥ 10 %
Curator churn (drops/quarter) ≤ 15 %
New curator growth +5 A-Tier contacts / quarter
7 ▸ COMMON MISTAKES
• Mass-mailing without personalization → instant spam.
• Sending WAVs/G-Drive links that require sign-in.
• Ignoring curator guidelines (genre window, fee structure).
• Only contacting when you need a placement—provide value in between.
• Arguing after a decline; politely ask for feedback, then move on.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Curator fit beats follower count.
One-to-one, proof-you-listened pitches win replies.
Log every interaction—relationships compound over time.
Give value first (exclusives, tags, traffic) to keep curators engaged.
Review scores quarterly and refresh your A-Tier; scenes evolve.