The dream of many new artists is to land on an editorial playlist on Spotify. Doing so is guaranteed to get their music noticed by new potential fans, and that leads to an entirely new set of perks as well. New fans mean more followers, more streams, and ultimately more money that you can earn from your music. And isn’t that the goal for artists everywhere? But, before we learn how to write the perfect pitch for the playlists, we should understand what exactly these playlists are and how they can benefit you and your career.
What is an Editorial Playlist?
There are three main types of playlists on Spotify: algorithmic playlists, listener playlists, and the one we will focus on today: editorial playlists. To put it as simply as possible, editorial playlists are created by Spotify professionals who are part of the editorial team. This is a team of experts from all over the world who have been hired by Spotify specifically to curate and manage these editorial playlists.
These editorial playlists that are created have huge followings; they are typically what people think of when they think about Spotify playlists. These playlists are usually geared toward specific genres, though there are some that are context-driven. Additionally, the editorial team also manages Feeder playlists. These are smaller playlists where they can more easily track how a new release is doing. If it does well on the feeder playlists, they are then moved to the larger editorial playlists.
How Can I Benefit from an Editorial Playlist?
Out of the three types of Spotify playlists, editorial playlists are easily the most beneficial to artists. That is mainly because of the large number of people who are subscribed to these playlists. A placement on one of these coveted playlists can result in hundreds of thousands of new listeners and potential streams of your music. Those listeners and streams convert into money earned by you doing what you love to do.
Why Do I Need a Pitch?
The easiest and most dependable way to get your music onto an editorial playlist on Spotify is to pitch it to the Spotify editorial team. Most additions to these playlists are because of their pitches; there are other ways to make it onto these playlists, though the odds are not very good. It is better to research and create your pitch before moving forward, at least, if you want to make it onto one of these special playlists.
The first thing you want to do is sign up for Spotify for Artists (S4A). This is the place where you will manage all of your music through Spotify, and it is also where you will submit your pitch. To start with, create your profile and make sure that everything is in working order. Some things to double check is your music quality, your artwork, the track length, and the track name. Also, make sure that you have a bio that includes pictures and social media links. Make sure that all your social media links are working because this will be the first place new listeners will go.
Now It’s Time to Pitch!
There are six easy steps to follow to pitch any new music you have coming out. Follow these steps and you are sure to find your music on an editorial playlist before you know it. Let’s look at these six steps, as well as any extra information you might need to know.
- Log in to your S4A account and click on “Music/Upcoming.”
- Select who you are pitching music to.
- Choose which track you want to release.
- Select the hometown and current location of the artist. This is required because some of the editorial playlists are location-based.
- Select up to three sub-genres that your music fits into. This will increase your likelihood of being added to an editorial playlist.
- Complete the rest of the information required, providing as much information as possible about your track.
That’s it! It is really easy to sign up to pitch your music, but there is also the actual pitch to think about. Make sure to use your 500 characters as wisely as possible. Make sure that you include your personal story, your approach to making music, the story behind the specific song, any previous successes, your promotion plan for the track, and your credibility. Try to include as much information as possible.
The more information you give the editors about your track, the more likely it will be placed on an editorial playlist. This is because, with all possible information, the editors will have an easier time placing your song on an appropriate playlist. Spotify editors love feeling captivated not only by your music, but by your story, your music’s story, and your song’s story. Tell these stories well (or pay someone else to do it!), and your hard work will surely pay off!
When is the Right Time to Pitch?
Equally important as the pitching process is the pitching time. Pitching your song at least seven days in advance will highly increase your chance of making a Release Radar. This is an algorithmic playlist that is created for each Spotify user on a weekly basis. This is a chance to get your music out to even more people as soon as it becomes available.
However, the earlier you can pitch your music, the better. It is typically requested that you submit your pitch four or five weeks before your actual release date. Please keep in mind that you can only pitch one song at a time, and you must be listed as the main artist. If you are listed as a featured artist or the song is a compilation, you cannot pitch it.
If you are needing assistance with pitching your music for a Spotify editorial playlist, check out GetPlaylisted. It is our job to pitch your music and to make sure you stand out from the crowd and get your music heard by all the right people.
