Music promotion
Spotify playlist submission: editorial and independent
How Spotify playlist submission works in 2026: pitching editorial through Spotify for Artists, finding independent curators, and avoiding paid-placement scams.
7 min read · Updated October 2026 · For artists pitching a new release to spotify playlists
How do I submit my music to Spotify playlists?
For editorial playlists, pitch one unreleased song in Spotify for Artists at least seven days before release. For independent playlists, find curators whose recent adds match your sound and send them a short, personal pitch with one link. Never pay for a guaranteed placement.
Two different doors
Spotify playlists come in two kinds. Editorial playlists are run by Spotify's own team and can only be pitched through Spotify for Artists. Independent playlists are run by curators, labels, blogs and brands — and each one decides for itself how, or whether, it accepts submissions.
Algorithmic playlists such as Release Radar and Discover Weekly are not pitched at all; they respond to how listeners engage with your track. Good editorial and independent placements feed them.
Pitching Spotify editorial
In Spotify for Artists, open your upcoming release and choose a song to pitch. You can pitch one song per release, and only before it comes out. Pitching at least seven days ahead also puts the song on your followers' Release Radar.
The pitch form is the only information an editor sees. Be precise about genre and sub-genre, mood, instrumentation and language, and use the description to explain the story and any marketing — a video, a tour, press already lined up.
- 01Deliver the release to your distributor three to four weeks early.
- 02Open the release in Spotify for Artists and pick one song.
- 03Fill every field; choose sub-genres that are honestly yours.
- 04Write two to three sentences of story and planned promotion.
- 05Submit at least seven days before release day.
Pitching independent curators
Independent curators respond to fit. Open the playlist, play the last twenty tracks added, and only pitch if your song would sit naturally among them. Follower counts can be inflated; recent adds and listener engagement tell you more.
Keep the message short: one line on why this playlist, one line on the song, the release date, and one Spotify link. Curators who accept submissions usually say how — a form, an email in their profile, or a submission platform.
Red flags
A curator or service that guarantees a placement or a number of streams in exchange for money is selling something Spotify prohibits. Artificial streams can lead to tracks being removed and royalties withheld.
Paying for someone's time to listen is a different thing from paying for a result. Know which one you are buying.
Where Virtual Publicist fits
Virtual Publicist matches your track to independent curators by genre, mood and recent activity, and explains why each one fits. You pitch them directly; there are no per-submission credits on a paid plan, and nothing is guaranteed.
The short version
- Editorial: Spotify for Artists only, one song, seven or more days early.
- Independent: pitch on recent adds, not follower count.
- Algorithmic playlists respond to listener engagement, not pitches.
- Never pay for guaranteed placements or streams.
Common questions
Is Spotify playlist submission free?
Yes. Pitching Spotify's editors through Spotify for Artists is free, and many independent curators accept submissions for free.
How many songs can I pitch to Spotify editorial?
One unreleased song per release, submitted before the release date through Spotify for Artists.
How do I find independent Spotify playlist curators?
Start from playlists that recently added songs like yours, then check how each curator accepts submissions. Virtual Publicist's curator Collections group curators by genre and mood.