How do I find and prioritize the right curators, blogs, influencers, and communities for my genre, with contact info?

Case Study — “Glass Garden”
Starting point: ~3,000 monthly listeners.
Built a master list of 160 genre-aligned playlists, blogs, and micro-influencers (Google Sheets).
Scoring model: Genre Fit ×3, Engagement ×2, Reach ×1, minus Cost.
Prioritized 25 high-value targets.
Pitch package: personalized email, private stream link, one-page EPK.
Two-week results: 8 placements, ≈ 78,000 streams, +22% save/stream, Spotify Radio recommendations.
Next release: reused shortlist → doubled pre-saves without paid ads.

Why This Question Matters
Discovery hinges on who champions your track.
Niche playlists, blogs, micro-influencers, and communities shape feeds and algorithmic radios.
A find → rank → approach system turns scattered data into a predictable growth engine.

1 ▸ Map the Landscape
Channels & Why They Matter
Playlist curator — editorial DSP lists, indie brands, power users (10k+ followers)Why: direct streaming spikes; algorithmic lift.

Music blog / web-zine — genre sites, Substack newsletters, hobbyist blogsWhy: SEO equity; quotable press for EPK.

Influencer — TikTok / Reels / Shorts creators who feature musicWhy: viral loops & UGC seeding.

Community hub — Discord servers, Reddit subs, Facebook groups, local forumsWhy: fan evangelists; repeat listeners.

2 ▸ Step-by-Step Workflow
2.1 Build a Long List (Quantitative)
Export playlists via Chartmetric or Soundcharts (filters: genre, followers, territory).
Pull accepted-curator lists from SubmitHub, Groover, SoundCampaign.
Use blog directories (Musosoup, Hype Machine archives) and filter by genre + “accepts submissions.”
Search influencer databases (Heepsy, GRIN, Traackr) for matching demographics.
Scan Reddit, Discord, Facebook for “playlist exchange” or “release radar” threads.
2.2 Enrich Contact Data (Qualitative)
Playlists: ~50% list IG/Twitter; DM first. If absent, hunt emails via linked socials.
Blogs: check About pages; verify submission email & guidelines (Hunter.io, WHOIS).
Influencers: reach out via marketplace DMs (Collabstr) or the public email in bio.
Log every detail in Airtable, Notion, or Google Sheets.
2.3 Score & Prioritize (ICE-style rubric)
Metrics & weights:Genre Fit ×3 — overlap with your top artists/playlists.
Engagement ×2 — saves-to-streams; comments-to-views.
Reach ×1 — followers or monthly visits.
Cost −1 — submission fee or sponsorship rate.

Method: score each 1–10, multiply by weight, sum total.
Tiers: A-List (top 20), B-List (next 50), Watchlist (rest).
2.4 Pitch Sequence — Respect inboxes
Week 1 — Email/DM A-List: reference their playlist/post in the opener; include one private stream link + concise EPK; follow their submission guidelines exactly.
Week 2 — Follow-up #1: share a new asset (lyric video, BTS clip) and a polite reminder.
Week 3 — Reach B-List: use submission credits/tokens; open with a tailored hook.
Ongoing — Log & Tag: track status (Sent → Opened → Replied → Placed) and next-step date in your CRM.
Etiquette: never mass-mail; every message must feel one-to-one and respect the curator’s rules.
2.5 Iterate & Optimize
After release week, log placements, save ratios, follower jumps, influencer engagement.
Re-score contacts quarterly—playlists die, blogs pivot; keep the list fresh.

3 ▸ Pros & Cons by Channel
Independent playlistsPros: quick wins; algorithmic lift; low cost.
Cons: high turnover; curator fatigue.

Editorial DSP pitchPros: massive reach; strong social proof.
Cons: no direct contact; highly competitive.

Blogs / web-zinesPros: permanent backlinks; press quotes.
Cons: fewer immediate streams; long lead times.

Micro-influencersPros: high engagement; niche authority.
Cons: usage-rights negotiations; variable rates.

CommunitiesPros: real feedback loops; superfans.
Cons: time-intensive participation.

4 ▸ Key Takeaways
Data first: wide net → score by fit/engagement/reach/cost.
Relationships over lists: engage beyond a single release.
Diversify touchpoints: playlists + blogs + influencers + communities.
Audit quarterly: refresh the shortlist every three months.
Respect inboxes: personalize every pitch and follow stated submission preferences.