Playlists drive discovery, but most pitches get ignored because they are lazy. Curators receive hundreds of submissions, and the ones that stand out are targeted, professional, and easy to say yes to. Pitching is a skill you can learn and systematize.
Pitching That Converts
Research each playlist’s actual sound before submitting — relevance beats volume. Use Spotify for Artists to pitch editorial playlists at least two weeks before release with a compelling story. Build relationships with independent curators through genuine engagement, not spam. Follow up once, politely, then move on. Track which playlists drive real listeners versus empty streams.
Respect the curator’s time and taste. Targeted pitches to the right ten playlists outperform blasts to a thousand wrong ones.
The waterfall release strategy multiplies playlist impact. Instead of dropping everything at once, release singles sequentially with each new single carrying the previous ones along — every release re-triggers algorithmic playlists and gives curators fresh reasons to feature you. Pre-save campaigns feed this machine: the pre-saves you generate before release day signal demand to Spotify’s algorithm, which boosts your chances of landing on Release Radar and Discover Weekly. Those algorithmic placements often outperform editorial ones for developing artists because they target listeners matched to your actual sound. Build genuine relationships with curators by engaging with their playlists before you pitch, and always thank them publicly when they add you. Playlist success is a system, not a lottery.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.