Short answer: Pick playlists that already fit your sound, send a pitch that takes 10 seconds to read, include one link, and follow up once. Curators get hundreds of messages. The ones that get replies are short, specific and clearly written for that playlist.
Most artists pitch the artist. Curators care about the playlist. Flip that and your reply rate changes.
Who you're pitching
| Curator type | How to reach | When |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify editors | Spotify for Artists pitch tool (the only door) | Before release, at least 7 days |
| Independent curators | Email, DM, submission form, or a submission platform | Once the track is live (some take pre-release links) |
| Algorithmic playlists | You can't pitch these | Feed them with real listening |
The Spotify for Artists tool is the only direct line to editors. Berklee Online and Orphiq both stress that editorial and user playlists are different games with different rules.
Step 1: Choose playlists that fit
For each playlist, check:
- Genre and mood. Would your song sit comfortably between the last 5 tracks?
- Recent adds. Are artists your size getting added?
- Activity. Updated recently?
- Legitimacy. Followers vs the curator's following, how songs are added, whether the listed artists have real listeners. (See our guide on spotting fake playlists.)
A tight list of 30 to 50 beats a spray of 500.
Step 2: Find the right contact
Curators publish contact info in the playlist description, profile bio, linked Instagram or website, or a submission form. Use what they publish. Skip bought email lists, because you don't know how they were collected.
Step 3: Build a minimal pitch pack
Curators decide fast. You need:
- A Spotify link to the song (not a file, not a download).
- Genre and mood in a few words.
- One line on fit.
- Optional: one proof point (a feature, a press hit, a recent milestone).
Leave out long bios and life stories.
Step 4: Write the pitch
Anatomy of a good one:
- Subject:
[Song] by [Artist] for [Playlist]or similar. Specific, not clickbait. - Line 1: Who you are and the song name.
- Line 2: Genre and mood.
- Line 3: Why it fits their playlist. Name a track in it.
- Line 4: Spotify link.
- Close: One short thank-you.
Under 100 words. (Our "Playlist pitch email template" has copy-paste versions for email, DM and follow-up.)
Step 5: Time it
- Editors: pitch before release, at least 7 days. Spotify says this also adds the song to your followers' Release Radar.
- Independent curators: pitch the week the song is live, unless the curator accepts pre-release links.
- Follow-up: once, after about 10 to 14 days.
Step 6: Follow up once
A polite two-line nudge with the link. If there's no reply, move on. Repeated follow-ups get you blocked.
What curators ignore
- Messages that don't mention the playlist.
- Genre mismatch.
- Attachments and downloads.
- Long bios and "I've been working on this for 3 years."
- Obvious mass messages.
- Asking for a add without a link.
Pay-to-submit platforms
Some platforms charge a fee so a curator will review your track. Fees we saw published run a few dollars per playlist. That's a listening fee, not a placement fee. A legit platform doesn't guarantee adds, and often credits you back when curators don't respond. Anything that guarantees placement for money violates Spotify's terms.
Measure your outreach
Track in a spreadsheet: playlist, link, contact, date sent, reply, result. After 30 pitches you'll see your reply rate. If it's under 5%, your list or your pitch needs work.
What we'd do
Spend two hours on a 40-playlist list. Vet each one. Pitch the week of release. Follow up once. After the campaign, check Spotify for Artists: if the adds produced saves and followers, those curators are your core list for the next release.
FAQ
How many curators should I pitch?
Start with 30 to 50 good fits rather than hundreds of random ones.
Should I send an MP3?
No. Send a Spotify link. Curators want to click and listen.
How long until I hear back?
Some reply in days. Many never reply. Follow up once after 10 to 14 days.
What if a curator asks for money for placement?
Walk away. Spotify says services that charge for guaranteed placement violate its terms.
Is it okay to pay for a listen?
Yes, if it's clearly a listening fee with no guarantee. Expect feedback, not a promise.
Do small playlists matter?
Yes. They reply more often, tend to be more genuine, and real adds can send positive signals to the algorithm.
Vet the playlist before you pitch it.
Paste a Spotify playlist link and get the evidence in about 30 seconds. Free account, 5 free pitches, no card.
Scan a playlist →