Let’s be honest – not all music playlisting services are created equal. Once you sift through the ones that are scams, it can still be difficult to tell which are worth it versus the ones that are a waste of money and time.
But which ones are the best? Well, it depends on your goals.
Here’s a look at the top five in the market, and the similarities and differences of each.
Playlist Push
Playlist Push is focused on connecting musicians with playlist curators to potentially get their music added to playlists. They've been in the game since 2017.
Pricing
The platform provides various pricing options, enabling artists to choose a plan that aligns with their budget and career stage.
However, the pricing on their website is listed by the number of playlists you get instead of streams, which may make it harder to determine ROI. It’s difficult to see if you’re on the right track by counting how many playlists you are on compared to streams or follower growth.
Benefits
AI-powered algorithm: Playlist Push's AI matches songs to appropriate playlists and creators, ensuring artists reach their intended audience. Just select a few genres, moods, or playlists that fit your song when you submit.
Proven track record: With over 20,000 artists, managers, and labels trusting their services, Playlist Push has established a reputation for delivering results and fostering artist growth.
Real-time analytics: Artists gain access to advanced analytics and placement data, empowering them with meaningful insights into their music’s performance.
Drawbacks
Using Playlist Push's services involves a bigger financial investment, which could be a drawback for independent artists or those on a tight budget. Artists have also been disappointed with the ROI for the price.
As a popular platform, competition for playlist placement may be intense, and not all submitted tracks may get selected.
Some people prefer to work with a team of people rather than an automated system. Automation is good for the company because it makes money, but it’s not always great for artists because you can get placed in inappropriate playlists. If you don’t fit neatly into a genre, it may not be helpful for you.
SubmitHub
SubmitHub helps artists submit their music to blogs, playlists, and other promotional channels, but it operates on a credit-based system where you use credits to submit to different curators. For six years, they've been connecting musicians with bloggers, playlist curators, and other tastemakers in the music industry.
Pricing
All of their pricing is through credits, and they recommend starting with ~50 credits ($50 USD) to target 15-25 playlist curators. They’ll listen and respond within 72 hours.
Benefits
Access to Curators: SubmitHub allows you to submit your music to a diverse range of curators, including blogs, playlists, and influencers.
Feedback: You can receive valuable feedback from curators on your submissions, helping you improve your craft and understand what resonates with different audiences.
Free AI Tools for Members: They have a tool that determines which genre most fits your song, and their playlist checker analyzes any playlist on Spotify to see if it’s bot-free (though in practice, this yields mixed results).
Drawbacks
High competition for curator attention could make it challenging to secure placements on popular playlists or blogs. But if you're in a small niche, it can be pretty useful.
Not all submissions will be accepted, so it's essential to manage expectations and continue refining your approach. Expect a lot of rejection and curators to pass on your music.
Also, acquiring credits for submissions can add up, especially for artists on a tight budget.
Groover
Groover’s angle is to connect musicians with music curators and professionals who truly listen to your tracks, offer valuable feedback, and share the tunes that resonate with them. With a focus on providing an easy and affordable way to get music heard, Groover has been at the forefront of bridging the gap between artists and curators.
Pricing
Artists can reach out to curators and professionals by using Grooviz, the platform's credits, to submit their tracks for consideration. Access to one curator costs two Grooviz, or $2.19 USD. According to their website, the artists who get the best results on Groover usually send their track to at least 50 contacts.
Benefits
Affordability: The platform offers an economical way for artists to promote their music and gain exposure without breaking the bank. Promoting music through Groover is often more cost-effective than traditional PR services, providing artists with a high return on investment.
Autonomy: This service lets you choose the playlists you think are best for your song. By targeting the curators and professionals that fit you best, you may not be as surprised by the results as much as other platforms.
Industry Connection: Groover serves as a bridge between artists and a community of over 500,000 professionals, providing a platform for networking and collaboration.
Drawbacks
Just like any platform, the sheer volume of submissions may pose a challenge. Competition is fierce, so not all submissions will result in placements.
You have to select the most relevant curators for your music and goals, which might be time-consuming for those who’d rather make music instead of research. Also, they guarantee feedback, but it may not be as in-depth or as high-quality as you’d like. It’s best to manage your expectations in case you receive a message that says, “I loved this track, but I’m going to pass,” which has been the experience for some.
This service has a lot of presence in Europe, so if you don’t want to target that area, other options may be better for you.
Boost Collective
Boost Collective prides itself on getting artists' music in front of the right audiences. With a focus on pitching songs to playlists that align with the artists' sound, they help musicians achieve their goals and reach new listeners.
Pricing
Boost Collective has several pricing tiers depending on your streaming goals. The cost also ranges based on whether they're having a sale:
- Bronze: An estimated 500-1.5k streams and get your song on 3+ playlists ($79-160).
- Gold: An estimated 2k-5k streams and secure placements on 8+ playlists ($129-330).
- Pro: An estimated 3k-10k streams with 15+ playlist placements ($199-499).
- Platinum: An estimated 8k-15k streams and spots on 20+ playlists. ($309-750).
- Diamond: An estimated 15k-30k streams with 30+ playlist placements ($549-$1380).
Benefits
Tailored Approach: By targeting playlists that are the best fit for the artist's music, Boost Collective ensures a strategic and customized promotion strategy.
Transparency: They have a user-friendly platform where artists can track the playlists they have been added to, providing them with insights into the placement of their music.
Guaranteed Results: If suitable playlists are not found within 10 business days of purchase, artists have the option of a full refund or an alternative complimentary campaign.
Drawbacks
Some artists have experienced the frustration of unexpected charges and the elusive quest to cancel subscriptions. These practices not only erode brand trust but also create unnecessary financial strain for independent artists already navigating a challenging industry.
In the world of music promotion, timely and supportive customer service is crucial. Unfortunately, it seems to be an area where Boost Collective falls short. Extended response times, unanswered emails, and unhelpful support responses paint a disheartening picture. Artists pour their hearts into their craft and deserve responsive, human-centred support when facing challenges.
Indie Music Academy
Indie Music Academy is focused on providing educational resources and networking opportunities for independent artists. It's a hub for learning about music promotion, networking with other musicians, and accessing valuable tools and knowledge to elevate your music career. They’ve been a guiding light for independent artists for several years, offering insights and tools to help musicians navigate the music industry.
Benefits
Knowledge and Education: Indie Music Academy provides courses, workshops, and tutorials on various aspects of the music industry, such as songwriting, production, and marketing. Access to educational resources can empower artists to hone their craft and navigate the music industry.
Community and Support: They offer a platform for artists to connect, collaborate, and support each other's musical journeys. Being part of a supportive community of fellow musicians can provide a sense of belonging within the music world.
Drawbacks
With a plethora of resources available, artists may feel overwhelmed or struggle to discern which information is most relevant to their specific needs. Also, engaging with courses and workshops may require a significant time investment, which could be challenging for artists balancing multiple responsibilities.
Members Media
Right off the bat, we want to give you a heads up that this is our company. So, of course, we’ll be a bit biased here–just keep that in mind as you read!
We’ve been a player in the music industry scene for several years now, focusing on helping musicians and artists by getting them considered for the right playlists.
Benefits
Trusted Industry Leaders: Members Media is highly regarded and trusted by industry leaders such as VP Recordings, EMPIRE, and Triple 8 Management. Our innovative and thoughtful approach to digital marketing has garnered praise for our ability to understand artists' visions and amplify them to a global audience.
Major Label Marketing for Indie Artists: We offer major label marketing strategies to indie artists, providing access to high-quality music promotion regardless of the stage of your career. This inclusive approach aims to support artists in reaching their full potential and breaking into the music industry.
Cost-effectiveness: We’re committed to offering cost-effective music promotion services. This ensures that artists of varying financial capacities can access quality promotion services to enhance their visibility and reach in the industry.
User-friendly Tools: We provide user-friendly services, allowing artists to focus on their core talent of making music. By simplifying the promotion process and providing easy-to-use services, you can navigate your promotion effortlessly and efficiently.
Don’t Pay Before Your Song Gets Accepted: We don't charge upfront fees. With a credit card hold, we only bill artists if we secure playlist placement for their music. And if we can't find a good match, we swiftly reverse the hold, sparing artists from unnecessary financial strain.
Guaranteed Results: We only accept songs we know we can work with, and that’s how we can guarantee what kind of result you can expect from your campaign. By digging deep into real audience engagement, authentic promotion, and building meaningful connections with listeners, we can estimate streams accurately. For example, if playlist A typically receives 500 daily streams, and playlist B receives 1000, we know we can guarantee 1500 daily streams. You know exactly what you’re paying for.
Drawbacks
Investing in our services may come with a financial commitment, and in a competitive landscape, standing out might require some extra effort.
If you're looking to elevate your music career and make informed decisions about promoting your music, each platform has its strengths and drawbacks. Choose wisely based on your specific goals and needs in the music industry.
