With 20,000+ daily submissions, Spotify editors can't give every pitch careful consideration. These five mistakes ensure your pitch gets skipped.
1. Mislabeling Your Genre
Pitch routing is automatic. When you select "Lo-Fi" for your pop-punk track, it goes to the editor who curates chill, downtempo playlists. They press play, hear something completely different, and skip immediately.
The mistake: Selecting genres that don't match your track, either from confusion or strategic thinking ("I'll tag EDM to reach those listeners too").
Why it kills your pitch: Wrong editor = no chance. Even if the editor is curious, they're curating playlists where your track wouldn't fit.
The fix:
- Be specific: "Dream Pop" beats "Pop"
- Tag the song, not your brand: A rock artist's ballad should be tagged as ballad genres
- Research: Listen to playlists in your selected genres to confirm fit
2. Leading With Emotion Instead of Evidence
Your 500-character pitch starts: "This is my most personal song yet. I poured my heart into every lyric and I really believe people will connect with it."
Editors have read this pitch ten thousand times today. It tells them nothing about your music, your audience, or why their playlist should care.
The mistake: Assuming editors want to hear your backstory or emotional investment.
Why it kills your pitch: No differentiation. Nothing concrete. No reason to prioritize your submission over any other.
The fix:
Lead with hooks that stand out:
- Metrics: "890K TikTok views on the preview"
- Credentials: "Co-produced with [Grammy nominee]"
- Comparisons: "Dark synth-pop for fans of The Weeknd meets Dua Lipa"
- Marketing: "$5K ad campaign launching day one"
Your feelings about the song don't help editors make playlisting decisions.
3. Submitting Too Late
You upload your track on Monday, it appears in Spotify for Artists on Wednesday, you pitch on Thursday, and release on Friday. Your pitch never gets reviewed.
The mistake: Treating pitching as an afterthought rather than a core release planning step.
Why it kills your pitch: Spotify's 7-day minimum isn't a suggestion. Pitches submitted later simply can't be processed in time. You've forfeited your shot.
The fix:
- Upload to your distributor 6+ weeks before release
- Pitch 4-6 weeks out (not 7 days)
- Build pitching into your release checklist before finalizing dates
- Never release in the same week you upload
4. Leaving Marketing Plans Vague
"Planning to promote on social media" is what every artist says. It tells editors nothing about your actual investment or strategy.
The mistake: Generic marketing descriptions that don't demonstrate real commitment.
Why it kills your pitch: Editors want songs that will perform well. If you can't articulate how you'll drive listeners, they have no reason to believe your track will succeed on their playlist.
The fix:
Be specific and concrete:
- "Running $3K Meta ad campaign targeting fans of similar artists"
- "Confirmed premiere on FADER dropping release day"
- "Opening for [Touring Artist] at 12 dates in March"
- "Newsletter blast to 15K subscribers"
Numbers, publications, and specific actions. Not intentions.
5. Ignoring the Release Radar Opportunity
Some artists don't pitch because they assume they won't get editorial. They're leaving guaranteed value on the table.
The mistake: Skipping the pitch because editorial selection feels unlikely.
Why it costs you: Pitching 7+ days before release guarantees your track appears in your followers' Release Radar, regardless of editorial selection. This is automatic and valuable.
What you lose by not pitching:
- Control over which track followers see (for albums/EPs)
- Metadata optimization for algorithmic routing
- The non-zero chance of editorial selection
- 10 minutes of effort for guaranteed algorithmic placement
The fix:
- Pitch every release that has any playlist-appropriate potential
- Accept that editorial is a bonus, not the goal
- Value the Release Radar guarantee as the baseline return
Bonus: The Desperate Ask
"Please give this a chance. It would mean so much to my career."
Begging signals desperation, not professionalism. Every artist feels their music deserves a chance. Expressing that doesn't differentiate you.
The fix: Let your pitch speak through evidence and specificity, not emotional appeals. Editors respond to quality and signals, not sympathy.
Quick Diagnostic
Before submitting your pitch, ask:
- Are my genre tags specific and accurate?
- Does my first sentence contain a concrete hook?
- Is my marketing plan specific with numbers or names?