How to Get on Spotify Editorial Playlists
By Sarah Jamieson
Landing on a Spotify editorial playlist can be one of the most powerful moves in an indie artist's career. Increased exposure, organic fan growth, and algorithm love all become part of the mix. But the question isn't just how to get your music onto Spotify playlists—it's how to make your pitch impossible to ignore.
- What Are Spotify Editorial Playlists?
- How Editorial Playlists Lead to Major Growth
- Your First Steps: Set the Stage for Your Pitch
- How to Apply for Spotify Playlists
- After You Pitch: Keep the Buzz Going
- What Spotify Playlist Curators Want
- Expanding Your Strategy Beyond Submissions
- What Artists Get Wrong About Editorial Playlisting
- Play the Long Game
- Your Next Steps
What Are Spotify Editorial Playlists?
Spotify editorial playlists are curated by their in-house global editorial team. These are handpicked by actual human beings who understand genre trends, mood, and audience intent. If you want to know more about the different types of Spotify playlists and how they work, check out our breakdown.
Here is a list of Spotify editorial playlists that are the most popular:
- RapCaviar, a globally influential playlist for rap fans
- New Music Friday, covering weekly releases across all music styles
- Fresh Finds, the go-to playlist for emerging talent
- Lorem, the playground for alternative sounds and genre mashups
Each editorial playlist has a distinct vibe and purpose, and behind them are playlist curators. These playlist-making gatekeepers decide what lands (and what doesn't).
How Editorial Playlists Lead to Major Growth
If you're curious to see what getting on Spotify editorial playlists can do for you, Fresh Finds is the ultimate "curation meets algorithm" example. In 2024, Spotify Fresh Finds proved to be a game-changer for emerging talent, spotlighting over 18,000 artists and driving an impressive 65 million discoveries globally.
Artists like indie-pop sensation Blondshell exemplify how Fresh Finds serves as a launchpad for growth. After being featured, she expanded her fan base, doubled her monthly listeners, and garnered international attention.
"Fresh Finds is combing blogs for patterns and paying attention to trendsetting users' listening behaviours," shares a Spotify editor behind the influential playlist. Those songs, and ones pitched to Spotify's editorial team, are considered by editors for placement. "The main thing tying together all of these artists is that they are independent," notes one editor. "[Fresh Finds] shines a light on small, independent artists that are showing some traction."
To add to this, over half of the artists who debut on Fresh Finds go on to secure spots in Spotify's flagship editorial playlists, including New Music Friday and RapCaviar. Strategic playlisting with Spotify can transform careers.
In the realm of rap and hip-hop, RapCaviar has carved out an iconic space, thanks in part to the personal touch of its former curator, Tuma Basa. As an industry insider remarked, when RapCaviar added Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow," it catapulted the track's success, highlighting the significant impact of expert curation.
Your First Steps: Set the Stage for Your Pitch
So, how do you get on Spotify editorial playlists? Getting your song in front of an editor takes preparation. They see thousands of submissions, so they're not just looking for a strong track. They need a reason to hit "Add to Playlist," figuratively and literally.
Verified Spotify for Artists Profile
Set this up immediately if you haven't already. A verified profile shows curators you're serious about being an artist. Make sure your photos, bio, and links are polished and complete.
Professionally Finished Tracks
Quality matters. Curators aren't wasting time on rough demos or "almost there" mixes. Submit fully mastered tracks that meet industry standards.
Visual Branding That Matches Your Sound
Cover art, social media imagery, and your overall artist vibe need to feel unified. When editors check out your profile, they want a clear, consistent story behind your music.
Organic Fan Traction
Yes, the numbers matter. Editors pay attention to playlist adds, pre-saves, and actual fan engagement. If listeners are buzzing over what you've got, editors are much more likely to take notice.
The downside is that if you're just starting out, you won't have an edge in this area. If you want to land on a super popular playlist, get more streams and fans first with your current tracks.
Why Should They Care Now?
Spotify's editors care about timing. They want to know: Why this track, and why now? To answer that, show real momentum:
- Is the song gaining traction on TikTok or Reels?
- Are fans pre-saving it or sharing it early?
- Are you lining up press coverage or upcoming shows?
- Are any influential people in the industry pushing the song?
Playlist curators look for signals that people already care, so they can catch the wave, not create it from scratch. They want to strike while the iron's hot.
How to Apply for Spotify Playlists
So, how do you pitch your music to Spotify playlists? Spotify makes submitting possible through Spotify for Artists, but there are some tricks you should know to help your submission along. Here are three quick ways to make sure your pitch doesn't get overlooked:
- Step 1: Submit Your Song
- Step 2: Polish Your Metadata
- Step 3: Write a Killer Pitch
We'll break this down for you, step by step.
Submitting Your Song
Use Spotify's Submission Tool
From your Spotify for Artists dashboard, select one unreleased track for pitching to Spotify editorial playlists. Head to the Music tab, click "Submit a song," and follow their process step by step.
It's worth noting that when you drop an entire album in one go, you're essentially putting all your eggs in one basket when it comes to pitching music to editors. It's a lesser-known pitfall that underscores the importance of the waterfall strategy, which allows artists to pitch each track separately. That heightens their odds of snagging those coveted editorial spots.
How Early Should I Submit My Song To Spotify Playlists?
Spotify requires you to submit your track at least seven days before its release date. That gives both editors and algorithms time to review it. If your track launches tomorrow, you won't make the cut. This is a common setback for many artists, so don't let it happen to you. Submit as early as possible, and make sure everything's set up before release day.
Nail the Metadata
This part's easy to mess up but crucial. Metadata is the unsung hero of your pitch to Spotify's editorial playlists. It's what tells curators exactly where your song belongs and whether it fits their vibe. A solid submission starts with getting your details spot-on. Here's how to do it right.
Be Accurate With Genre and Mood Choices
Genres matter. Sub-genres matter even more. If your track feels more "Bedroom Pop" or "Indie Pop," don't just slap "Pop" in your genre field. It's too broad and doesn't tell the story. Plus, in the case of pop, it makes it more competitive to get placed. Curators need sharp, specific data to place your song in the right context.
Same goes for mood. Vague terms like "cool" won't cut it. Use Spotify's available mood options (uplifting, moody, romantic, energetic). They're there for a reason. Bad metadata can send your track to the wrong curators, or worse, nowhere at all.
And if your song's a tearjerker ballad, don't label it as upbeat and happy just because you're hoping to land on a party playlist. Misleading metadata creates confusion and could get your track skipped entirely. Be real.
Use Every Field Spotify Offers
Think of metadata fields as your chance to paint a picture for editors. Spotify lets you include:
- Instrumentation (Is it synth-heavy? Acoustic guitar-based?)
- Vocal style (Female vocals, rap, spoken word, you name it.)
- Language of the song (Critical for playlists targeting certain regions.)
- Cultural influences (Don't skip this if your track aligns with global or regional playlists.)
The more thorough you are, the easier it is for Spotify to find your track internally. A blank field is a m...
