As an independent artist, getting your music heard can feel like an uphill battle. I know the struggle all too well—spending countless hours perfecting your tracks, only to wonder how to get them in front of the right audience. One of the most effective ways to gain exposure and grow your fanbase is by getting your music featured on popular playlists. But with so many options out there, where do you even start?
That’s where this guide comes in. I’ve done the legwork to compile a list of the 11 best playlist curators you can submit your music to. These platforms and services are designed to help you connect with curators who can give your tracks the spotlight they deserve.
1. Daily Playlists
Daily Playlists is a free platform that connects artists with thousands of Spotify playlist curators. It aims to simplify the process of pitching music to playlists across various genres.
Artists start by submitting their Spotify track link on the Daily Playlists website. After logging in with Spotify, users can select relevant genres and moods for their song. The platform then presents a list of matching playlists, which can be sorted by factors like follower count or submission volume. Artists can submit their track to multiple playlists at once for free.
Curators on Daily Playlists review submissions and decide whether to add tracks to their playlists. While there’s no guarantee of placement, the platform provides artists access to thousands of potential playlists. Daily Playlists also offers an “Automatic Submission” feature to streamline the process further.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is one of the most prominent online playlist curators, offering a diverse range of carefully curated playlists across various themes and moods. Their playlists are available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud, making them easily accessible to a wide audience.
Artists can submit their music to Playlist Curator by filling out a submission form on their website. The platform receives hundreds of submissions each month, and their team carefully listens to each track, applying strict criteria to assess its suitability for their playlists.
Playlist Curator offers a wide variety of themed playlists, ranging from love songs and sad melodies to happy beats and party jams. This diversity allows artists to find playlists that best match their music style and target audience. Some popular playlist themes include “Songs About True Love,” “Songs About Soulmates,” and “Songs About Trust and Honesty”.
The curation process is thorough, with the team focusing on selecting high-quality tracks that align with each playlist’s theme and will resonate with their listeners. Due to the high volume of submissions, Playlist Curator doesn’t notify artists of rejections. If an artist hasn’t heard back within a month, they can assume their submission wasn’t selected.
3. Indiemono
Indiemono is an independent music curation service focused on discovering and promoting emerging artists through their Spotify playlists and blog.
Indiemono offers a free submission system where artists can submit their music for consideration across Indiemono’s various playlist categories. When an artist submits a track, it goes into a private playlist organized by submission date.
The Indiemono team listens to all submissions, though they don’t provide individual feedback. If a track is selected, it may be added to one or more of Indiemono’s themed playlists. While the process can be slow due to high submission volumes, Indiemono is known for its commitment to indie artists and quality curation.
For faster consideration, Indiemono offers a paid submission option through Patreon, where they commit to listening to songs in the same month they’re submitted. However, this doesn’t guarantee placement, as only about 15% of paid submissions are typically supported each month.
4. Rizing Playlists
Rizing Playlists is a Denmark-based curation service that manages a series of genre-specific “Rizing” playlists on Spotify, focused on promoting up-and-coming artists.
Artists can submit their music to Rizing Playlists through an online submission form on their website. The submission process is free and open to tracks in various genres including pop, indie, rap, and classical.
After submission, Rizing Playlists’ editorial team reviews each track. If accepted, artists are notified via email and their song is added to one or more relevant Rizing playlists. The service emphasizes that they do not engage in paid placements, adhering strictly to Spotify’s terms and conditions.
Rizing Playlists encourages artists to familiarize themselves with their playlists before submitting to ensure their music fits the curators’ tastes. While not every submission is guaranteed placement, artists can submit up to three of their best tracks for consideration.
5. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is a music promotion platform that connects artists with playlist curators, offering both free and paid submission options.
Artists begin by creating a SoundCampaign account and submitting their track for review. They can choose between playlist pitching campaigns or feedback campaigns. For playlist pitching, artists can target curators based on genre, mood, and other criteria.
Once submitted, curators have a set time to review the music and provide feedback. If a curator likes a track, they may add it to their playlist. SoundCampaign offers analytics so artists can track their campaign performance.
While SoundCampaign offers a free submission tier, they also have paid options that promise faster curator responses and more targeted submissions. The platform emphasizes organic growth and does not guarantee specific streaming numbers or playlist additions.
6. SubmitHub
SubmitHub is one of the most well-known music submission platforms, connecting artists with bloggers, playlist curators, record labels, and other industry professionals.
Artists create a SubmitHub account and upload the track they wish to promote. They can then browse through available curators, filtering by genre, type (blog, playlist, label, etc.), and other criteria. Artists have the option to submit for free or use premium credits, which cost money but guarantee a faster response and more detailed feedback.
When submitting, artists can include a personalized message to introduce themselves and provide context for their music. Curators then have a set time to listen and respond with feedback, which can be either an acceptance or rejection with constructive criticism.
SubmitHub’s transparency is a key feature – artists can see statistics on each curator’s acceptance rates and response times. The platform also allows artists to rate curators based on their experiences, helping maintain quality control.
While SubmitHub can be an effective tool for getting music heard by industry professionals, success often depends on targeting the right curators and crafting compelling pitches. The platform’s credit system and detailed analytics allow artists to refine their submission strategy over time.
7. iMusician
iMusician is a digital music distribution service that also offers playlist submission opportunities for artists. They maintain their own curated playlists across various genres and allow free submissions.
Artists can submit their music to iMusician playlists for free through their website. After creating an account, you can select relevant genres and playlists that match your music. iMusician’s curation team reviews submissions and decides whether to add tracks to their playlists. While there’s no guarantee of placement, iMusician provides artists access to their network of playlists at no cost. They also offer paid distribution services, but playlist submission is separate and free.
8. MySphera
MySphera is a playlist pitching service that connects artists with playlist curators, music bloggers, and journalists.
Artists can submit their music through MySphera’s platform. The service analyzes each submission and matches it with relevant tastemakers in their network. MySphera offers different campaign tiers at various price points. One of their unique features is a “No Features = Money Back” policy, providing some assurance to artists. The platform aims to streamline the process of getting music in front of influential curators and media contacts.
9. SpinGrey
SpinGrey is an independent playlist curator focused on promoting emerging artists across various genres.
Artists can submit their music to SpinGrey through their Patreon page. SpinGrey maintains several curated playlists on Spotify, each focusing on different styles and moods. Their team listens to submissions and selects tracks that fit their playlists’ themes and quality standards. While submission through Patreon implies a cost, it potentially offers a more direct line to the curator’s attention. SpinGrey emphasizes supporting independent artists and helping them gain exposure.
10. SongRocket
SongRocket is a music promotion platform that offers playlist pitching services among other promotional tools for independent artists.
Artists can create an account on SongRocket and submit their tracks for playlist consideration. The platform connects artists with a network of playlist curators across various genres. SongRocket offers both free and paid submission options. With paid campaigns, artists can target specific playlists or genres and receive detailed analytics on their submission’s performance. The service aims to provide a user-friendly interface for artists to manage their playlist pitching efforts and track results.
11. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a well-established playlist pitching service that connects artists with a large network of independent playlist curators.
Artists start by submitting their track and campaign details to Playlist Push. The platform then matches the submission with relevant curators in their network based on genre and style. Curators listen to the track and provide feedback, deciding whether to add it to their playlists. Artists receive detailed reports on curator feedback and any resulting playlist adds. Playlist Push operates on a paid model, with campaign costs varying based on factors like genre and campaign duration. They emphasize their strict vetting process for curators to maintain quality and prevent artificial streaming.
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