How to Get on Spotify Playlists

If you want more people to hear your music, getting placed on Spotify playlists is a key step.

You cannot pay your way into a playlist. The only real filter is the quality of the music.

Here is how to raise your chances of being picked by Spotify's editors.

1. Make high quality music: well produced, well arranged and professionally MIXED.

2. Make sure your MASTER has the right loudness for your genre, so it holds up next to the other tracks in the playlist.

3. Playlist editors look for tracks that grab the listener from the first notes. Follow the "10 second rule": do not lose a listen with a long intro. Something interesting and catchy has to happen within the first 10 seconds.

4. Polish your artist profile on Spotify for Artists. Make it complete and professional: a good profile picture and a bio that reflects who you are as an artist.

5. Use a reliable distributor, such as DistroKid or TuneCore, to get your music on Spotify.

6. Deliver your music to your distributor at least 7 days before the release date and, in those days, pitch it to the editors from Spotify for Artists: Music > Upcoming, pick the song and fill in the pitch form (more detail gives it a better chance). A song pitched at least 7 days before release goes automatically into your followers' Release Radar. You can pitch one song at a time, and only before it is out.

7. Release on the night between Thursday and Friday, so people can enjoy new music over the weekend.

8. Release at midnight to get the most streams on day one.

9. Follow Spotify's own advice on promoting your music.

10. Reach out to independent playlist curators. Look up the influential ones on Spotify: many are active on social media or have a dedicated channel for submissions.

Be patient and persistent. Getting the attention of playlist editors takes time. Even if results do not come right away, keep working on your music, on promotion and on your connection with the audience.

Competition is fierce, but if you follow these steps with dedication you will raise your odds of landing on the playlists that matter, and of bringing your music to a wider audience.