How To Pitch to Spotify Editorial Playlists (2025) | Dynamoi
How-to Guide
•
Updated
How To Pitch to Spotify Editorial Playlists (2025)
Pitch one unreleased track via Spotify for Artists at least 28 days before release. Optimize your metadata tags and use real data in your description to stand out.
Pitching for editorial playlists is the most misunderstood part of the Spotify ecosystem. Most artists treat it like a lottery ticket: submit, pray, and wait.
Smart strategists treat it like a data entry task. This guide covers pitching in depth; for the complete promotion strategy, see our Spotify music promotion guide.
Your goal isn't to charm an editor with your life story. Your goal is to provide the specific routing data (Genre, Mood, Location, Momentum) that helps a human editor or an AI model categorize your song correctly.
This guide covers the 2025 best practices for pitching effectively, without the myths.
The Golden Rules of Pitching
Before you open the form, know the constraints:
One Track Only: You can pitch exactly one song per release. If you are dropping an EP, you must pick the focus track.
Unreleased Only: You cannot pitch music that is already live. The button disappears the moment the song is released.
Primary Artists Only: Featured artists cannot pitch the track. Only the main (primary) artist can submit.
The 28-Day Timeline
Spotify officially says "pitch at least 7 days before release."
Ignore that advice. That is the minimum to trigger Release Radar.
If you want actual editorial consideration, you need to pitch 28 days (4 weeks) in advance.
Weeks 4-3: Editors review long-lead submissions for major playlists.
Week 2: Editors finalize regional and genre-specific lists.
Week 1: The system locks in Release Radar. If you pitch now, you are likely too late for editorial.
The Pitch Form: A Field-by-Field Strategy
When you click "Pitch a Song," you are helping Spotify route your track. Don't be vague.
1. Genre & Mood (The Routing System)
This is not about how you feel; it's about where the song fits.
The Mistake: Tagging "Pop" because you want a big audience.
The Fix: Be hyper-specific. If it's "Indie Folk," tag it as that. Mis-tagging gets your song sent to the wrong editor (e.g., a Hip-Hop editor getting a Folk track), resulting in an instant skip.
2. Location (The Local Angle)
Editors program for territories (Hot Hits UK, Indie Brasil).
If you have a buzz in a specific city, tag it.
Pro Tip: Mention your "Hometown" relevance or upcoming shows in that specific market in the description.
3. The Description (Data > Adjectives)
You have 500 characters. Do not waste them on "It's a vibey summer bop."
Use the Data Pitch format to prove momentum.
Template:
"[Genre/Vibe] track building on the success of 'Previous Hit' (100k streams). Currently seeing 40% Save Rate on pre-release ads targeting [Similar Artist] fans. Support: BBC Radio 1 spin confirmed, sold-out show at [Venue] in London. Key markets: London, Los Angeles, Sydney."
How-to Guide
•
Updated
How To Pitch to Spotify Editorial Playlists (2025)
Pitch one unreleased track via Spotify for Artists at least 28 days before release. Optimize your metadata tags and use real data in your description to stand out.
Pitching for editorial playlists is the most misunderstood part of the Spotify ecosystem. Most artists treat it like a lottery ticket: submit, pray, and wait.
Smart strategists treat it like a data entry task. This guide covers pitching in depth; for the complete promotion strategy, see our Spotify music promotion guide.
Your goal isn't to charm an editor with your life story. Your goal is to provide the specific routing data (Genre, Mood, Location, Momentum) that helps a human editor or an AI model categorize your song correctly.
This guide covers the 2025 best practices for pitching effectively, without the myths.
The Golden Rules of Pitching
Before you open the form, know the constraints:
One Track Only: You can pitch exactly one song per release. If you are dropping an EP, you must pick the focus track.
Unreleased Only: You cannot pitch music that is already live. The button disappears the moment the song is released.
Primary Artists Only: Featured artists cannot pitch the track. Only the main (primary) artist can submit.
The 28-Day Timeline
Spotify officially says "pitch at least 7 days before release."
Ignore that advice. That is the minimum to trigger Release Radar.
If you want actual editorial consideration, you need to pitch 28 days (4 weeks) in advance.
Weeks 4-3: Editors review long-lead submissions for major playlists.
Week 2: Editors finalize regional and genre-specific lists.
Week 1: The system locks in Release Radar. If you pitch now, you are likely too late for editorial.
The Pitch Form: A Field-by-Field Strategy
When you click "Pitch a Song," you are helping Spotify route your track. Don't be vague.
1. Genre & Mood (The Routing System)
This is not about how you feel; it's about where the song fits.
The Mistake: Tagging "Pop" because you want a big audience.
The Fix: Be hyper-specific. If it's "Indie Folk," tag it as that. Mis-tagging gets your song sent to the wrong editor (e.g., a Hip-Hop editor getting a Folk track), resulting in an instant skip.
2. Location (The Local Angle)
Editors program for territories (Hot Hits UK, Indie Brasil).
If you have a buzz in a specific city, tag it.
Pro Tip: Mention your "Hometown" relevance or upcoming shows in that specific market in the description.
3. The Description (Data > Adjectives)
You have 500 characters. Do not waste them on "It's a vibey summer bop."
Use the Data Pitch format to prove momentum.
Template:
"[Genre/Vibe] track building on the success of 'Previous Hit' (100k streams). Currently seeing 40% Save Rate on pre-release ads targeting [Similar Artist] fans. Support: BBC Radio 1 spin confirmed, sold-out show at [Venue] in London. Key markets: London, Los Angeles, Sydney."
Why this works:
Social Proof: Radio spins / Live shows.
Metric Proof: "40% Save Rate" signals high retention.
Context: "Similar Artist" helps them place it.
Pre-Pitch Checklist
Editors look at your profile before they listen. If it looks dead, they move on.
[ ] Updated Bio: Does it mention your current project?
[ ] Fresh Photos: High-res, less than 6 months old.
[ ] Social Links: Are your Instagram/TikTok links working?
[ ] Canvas: Have you uploaded a visual loop for the new track? (This signals "Pro").
What If You Don't Get Placed?
90% of pitches are not placed. That is okay.
The data you entered still helps the Algorithmic Playlists (Radio, Discover Weekly).
By tagging your song correctly, you trained the algorithm on who should hear it. If you drive your own traffic (via Ads or Socials) and generate a high Save Rate, the algorithm will pick up where the editors left off.
FAQ
Can I pay for editorial placement?No. Anyone selling "Guaranteed Editorial" is a scammer. This is payola and can get your music banned. See our Fraud Guide.
Can I edit my pitch after submitting?
Yes, up until the release date. If you land a big press feature or tour support 2 weeks out, go back in and update your description.
Does pitching guarantee Release Radar?
Yes, for your followers. If you pitch at least 7 days early, your song will appear in the Release Radar of everyone who follows you.
Why this works:
Social Proof: Radio spins / Live shows.
Metric Proof: "40% Save Rate" signals high retention.
Context: "Similar Artist" helps them place it.
Pre-Pitch Checklist
Editors look at your profile before they listen. If it looks dead, they move on.
[ ] Updated Bio: Does it mention your current project?
[ ] Fresh Photos: High-res, less than 6 months old.
[ ] Social Links: Are your Instagram/TikTok links working?
[ ] Canvas: Have you uploaded a visual loop for the new track? (This signals "Pro").
What If You Don't Get Placed?
90% of pitches are not placed. That is okay.
The data you entered still helps the Algorithmic Playlists (Radio, Discover Weekly).
By tagging your song correctly, you trained the algorithm on who should hear it. If you drive your own traffic (via Ads or Socials) and generate a high Save Rate, the algorithm will pick up where the editors left off.
FAQ
Can I pay for editorial placement?No. Anyone selling "Guaranteed Editorial" is a scammer. This is payola and can get your music banned. See our Fraud Guide.
Can I edit my pitch after submitting?
Yes, up until the release date. If you land a big press feature or tour support 2 weeks out, go back in and update your description.
Does pitching guarantee Release Radar?
Yes, for your followers. If you pitch at least 7 days early, your song will appear in the Release Radar of everyone who follows you.
