Playlist placement remains one of the most effective ways to reach new listeners on Spotify. For AI music creators, the pitching process works similarly to traditional music, with some additional considerations around disclosure and curator attitudes. Over 70,000 songs are pitched through Spotify for Artists each week, and only a small fraction make it onto editorial playlists.

This guide covers Spotify's editorial pitching process, independent curator outreach, AI-specific considerations, and how to avoid common scams.

Types of Spotify playlists

Understanding playlist types helps you target your efforts effectively.

Editorial playlists

Created and maintained by Spotify's editorial team.

Examples: RapCaviar, Today's Top Hits, Chill Hits
How to access: Pitch through Spotify for Artists
Difficulty: Very high, but highest impact
AI consideration: Spotify's policies may affect placement

Algorithmic playlists

Generated by Spotify's algorithms based on listener behavior.

Examples: Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Daily Mix
How to influence: Cannot pitch directly; driven by engagement
Growth factor: Builds as your music gains saves and streams
AI consideration: No special restrictions

User-curated playlists

Created by Spotify users, influencers, or brands.

Range: From hobby curators to major playlist brands
How to access: Direct outreach, submission platforms
Quality: Highly variable, some valuable, many worthless
AI consideration: Individual curator preferences vary

Note Focus your energy on editorial pitching (free, legitimate) and carefully vetted independent curators. Avoid paying for "guaranteed" placements.

Spotify for Artists editorial pitching

The only legitimate way to pitch to Spotify's editorial team is through Spotify for Artists.

Requirements

Verified Spotify for Artists account
Unreleased music (not yet available on Spotify)
Pitch submitted at least 7 days before release (4 weeks recommended)

The pitching process

Claim your Spotify for Artists profile If you have not already, verify your artist profile at artists.spotify.com. This requires having at least one distributed release on Spotify.
Navigate to the Music section Find your upcoming release in the Music tab. Only unreleased tracks can be pitched.
Click 'Submit' on your track Select the song you want to pitch for editorial consideration.
Complete the pitch form Fill in all requested information: genre, mood, style, and your description of the track.
Write your pitch description Craft a compelling 1-2 paragraph description explaining your song. Be honest and specific.
Submit and wait Once submitted, you cannot edit the pitch. Wait for potential placement, which may or may not happen.

Writing an effective pitch

According to Spotify's pitching guide, successful pitches share common traits:

Include:

What the song is about and why you wrote it
Accurate genre and subgenre classification
Mood and energy description
Relevant cultural context or timeliness
Any notable collaborators or credits

Avoid:

Comparisons to major artists unless accurate
Hype without substance
Generic descriptions that fit any song
Requests or demands

Example pitch structure:

"[Song title] is a [genre] track about [theme/story]. The production
features [notable elements] with [mood descriptor] energy. This song
marks [context: new direction, collaboration, story]. It connects
with [target audience] and fits [specific playlist type] moments."

The AI disclosure question

Should you mention AI in your editorial pitch?

Arguments for disclosure:

Transparency builds trust if asked later
Spotify's policies may soon require it anyway
Some editors may appreciate honesty

Arguments against:

May bias editors before hearing the music
No current requirement to volunteer this information
Focus should be on the music's quality

Recommendation: Focus your pitch on the music itself. Do not hide AI involvement if directly asked, but your pitch should sell the song's merits, not explain its origin story.

Release Radar and algorithmic playlists

You cannot pitch to algorithmic playlists, but you can optimize for them.

Release Radar

When you pitch at least 7 days before release, your track automatically appears in your followers' Release Radar. This is guaranteed if you pitch in time, regardless of editorial placement.

Optimization:

Build followers before releasing
Pitch every release (even without editorial expectations)
Release consistently to train the algorithm

Discover Weekly

Based on listener behavior and track similarity. Influenced by:

Saves and repeat listens
Playlist additions by listeners
Similarity to other tracks users enjoy

Strategy: Focus on creating music that generates saves and repeat plays. Quality and listener engagement matter more than pitch tactics.

Independent playlist curator outreach

Beyond Spotify's editorial team, thousands of independent curators maintain playlists. Approach thoughtfully.

Finding legitimate curators

SubmitHub

According to SubmitHub reviews, the platform connects artists with curators transparently.

How it works: Pay for submission credits; curators must respond within 48 hours
Typical approval rate: Around 5-14%
Cost: A few dollars per submission
Benefits: Guaranteed response, feedback, no false promises

Tips for SubmitHub success:

Select curators with 30%+ average approval rates
Choose "specific and honest feedback" option
Target curators who feature your genre
Quality over quantity in submissions

Direct outreach

Find curators through:

Spotify playlist search in your genre
Instagram and Twitter music communities
Music blogs that maintain playlists
Playlist-focused subreddits (for information, not spamming)

Best practices:

Personalize every message
Explain why your track fits their specific playlist
Be professional and brief
Accept rejection gracefully
Build relationships over time

Red flags (avoid these)

Warning Sign	What It Means
Guaranteed placement for payment	Pay-for-play violates Spotify terms
"Spotify promotion" services	Often bots or fake streams
Unrealistic promises	No one can guarantee editorial placement
Suspicious playlist names	Generic names often indicate fake playlists
Very low follower engagement	Bot followers, not real listeners

Warning Paying for guaranteed playlist placement can result in your music being removed from Spotify entirely. Legitimate services offer submission opportunities, not guaranteed results.

AI music-specific considerations

Curator attitudes

Independent curators vary in their AI music policies:

Some actively seek AI music: Growing niche audience
Some are indifferent: Judge purely on quality
Some specifically exclude AI: Personal or philosophical reasons

There is no complete list of curator policies. The best approach is to submit quality music and accept that some curators will decline for non-quality reasons.

Spotify's evolving policies

Spotify's 2025 AI policies focus on:

Removing unauthorized voice cloning
Blocking spam and mass uploads
Implementing AI disclosure in credits

These policies affect distribution more than pitching, but curators may become more aware of AI involvement as disclosure becomes standard.

Pitch framing

When contacting independent curators:

Lead with the music's qualities
Be prepared to answer questions about creation
Do not misrepresent your music's origin
Focus on fit for their audience

Realistic expectations

Set appropriate expectations for playlist pitching:

Editorial playlists

Typical success rate: Very low (under 1% of pitches)
Timeline: May hear nothing; placement not guaranteed
Impact: Can be transformative if it happens
Sustainability: Usually temporary boost, not permanent

Independent playlists

Typical success rate: 5-15% on platforms like SubmitHub
Impact: Variable, from minimal to meaningful
Best approach: Many small placements > chasing one big win
Relationship building: Curators may feature you again

Algorithmic playlists

Path: Build through engagement, not pitching
Timeline: Grows as catalog and listener base grow
Sustainability: More stable than editorial placement

Long-term playlist strategy

Build sustainable playlist presence over time:

Release consistently Regular releases give you more pitching opportunities and train algorithmic playlists.
Pitch every release Even without editorial expectations, pitching ensures Release Radar placement for followers.
Build genuine connections Curators who like your music may feature future releases without outreach.
Focus on listener engagement Saves and repeat plays influence algorithmic placement more than any pitch.
Create your own playlists Include your music alongside similar artists; becomes a discovery source.

Measuring playlist impact

Track how playlists affect your performance:

Metric	What to Watch
Streams from playlists	Spotify for Artists shows source breakdown
Save rate	Indicates quality of playlist placement
Follower growth	New followers from playlist discovery
Monthly listeners	Overall reach expansion
Playlist additions	Listeners adding to their own playlists

High saves and follower gains indicate quality playlist placement. High streams but low saves may indicate placement on playlists with passive listeners who do not engage deeply.

Beyond Spotify

While Spotify dominates playlist discussion, other platforms matter:

YouTube playlists: Curated compilations drive discovery
Apple Music: Editorial and algorithmic playlists
Amazon Music: Growing playlist network
YouTube Music: Connected to YouTube channel presence

For AI music creators, YouTube often offers lower friction than audio-only platforms, making it a strategic primary focus while building Spotify presence through consistent releases and pitching.

Playlist pitching is a numbers game with uncertain outcomes. Focus on creating quality music, pitching every release through proper channels, and building genuine engagement. Sustainable success comes from catalog building and listener relationships, not single playlist placements.