How do I choose the right pitching platform (SubmitHub, Groover, PlaylistPush, SoundCampaign) and understand their value?
TL;DR — Pick the pitching platform that best matches your goal, genre, and budget
Platform Quick-look Strength Typical Cost / Minimum When It Shines
SubmitHub Fast, low-cost credits; 24 h feedback $1–3 per curator credit Testing mixes, artwork, early buzz
Groover Deeper written feedback; strong EU reach ≈ €2 per curator Story-driven releases, blog/radio angles
One Submit “Set-and-forget” multi-platform pitching ≈ $75 campaign start Mid-budget scaling without manual credit grind
PlaylistPush Largest indie-playlist network ≈ $300 campaign minimum High-volume playlist adds once metrics prove out
SoundCampaign Flat-fee campaigns with partial-refund guarantee $80–$150 typical Budget-controlled reach plus cost-per-stream tracking
Rule of thumb: Validate on SubmitHub → refine on Groover → expand via One Submit → pour bigger spend into PlaylistPush or SoundCampaign after save-rate ≥ 10 %.
Case Study — “Echo Valley”
Step Platform(s) Spend Outcome
Idea test SubmitHub (40 credits) $48 9 playlist adds, actionable mix feedback
EU push Groover (35 contacts) €70 8 adds + niche blog premiere
Hands-off scale One Submit (starter campaign) $80 14 adds across mixed-genre lists
Volume boost PlaylistPush $325 31 adds, +42 k streams
Final bump SoundCampaign $120 11 adds, +9 k streams
Six-week totals: blended cost/stream ≈ $0.016; +2 500 followers.
1 ▸ Decision Matrix
Platform Cost Model / Min Spend Strengths Best Use-Cases Watch-outs
SubmitHub $1–3 per credit (free daily credits) Rapid feedback, refunds if no reply A/B testing, niche adds Small follower counts; credit grind
Groover ≈ €2 per curator Detailed feedback, EU blogs/radios Narrative releases, PR angles Less US coverage; pricier per add
One Submit Flat campaign (starts ≈ $75) Multi-platform reach, low admin Mid-budget playlist growth Curator choice automated; monitor ROI
PlaylistPush Campaign min ≈ $300 Big curator roster, hands-off Scaling polished pop/rap/EDM High entry fee; results vary by genre
SoundCampaign Flat fee (avg $100) Refund safety net, CPM dashboard Cost-controlled broad reach Mixed curator quality; less granular targeting
2 ▸ Key Selection Factors
Goal
• Feedback proof-of-concept → SubmitHub / Groover
• Steady, automated adds → One Submit
• High-volume growth → PlaylistPush / SoundCampaign
Genre fit
• Indie/lo-fi often cheaper on SubmitHub/Groover
• Mainstream pop/rap scale better on PlaylistPush/SoundCampaign
Budget
• < $100 → SubmitHub credits or small Groover batch
• $100–$250 → Groover + starter One Submit campaign
• $300+ → PlaylistPush or full SoundCampaign rollout
Time & control
• Need responses within 48 h? SubmitHub dominates
• Prefer “set and forget”? PlaylistPush or One Submit handle follow-ups
3 ▸ Test-and-Scale Ladder
Week 1 — Discovery test
30–50 SubmitHub credits → aim for save-rate ≥ 8 %.
Week 2 — Refinement
Tweak mix/art; 25–40 Groover contacts.
Week 3 — Hands-off expansion
Launch One Submit campaign if save-rate ≥ 9 %.
Week 4–5 — Volume scaling
If save-rate ≥ 10 % & skip-rate < 25 %, start PlaylistPush ($300+) or SoundCampaign ($100+).
Week 6 — Review
Compare cost per add/stream; cut lowest-ROI platform next cycle.
4 ▸ Metrics to Monitor
Metric Target
Save-to-stream % from playlists ≥ 10 %
Cost per playlist add SubmitHub ≤ $4 • Groover ≤ $5 • One Submit ≤ $8 • PlaylistPush ≤ $12 • SoundCampaign ≤ $9
Cost per 1 000 streams ≤ $15 blended
Algorithmic share (week 3) ≥ 25 % of total streams
5 ▸ Common Mistakes
Choosing platform by price alone—match to genre & KPI.
Launching large PlaylistPush spend before proof on smaller services.
Overlapping campaigns; stagger for clear attribution.
Ignoring written feedback—it often beats the add itself.
Skipping metadata cleanup; bad tags = instant decline.
Key Takeaways
Validate cheaply, scale wisely: low-cost credits show real traction.
Each platform has a sweet spot: align by genre, territory, and goal.
Use a ladder approach—SubmitHub / Groover ➜ One Submit ➜ PlaylistPush / SoundCampaign.
Track ROI objectively: cost per add, save, and stream each cycle.
Move winning curators into your own CRM so future releases rely less on paid platforms.