Spotify built its brand on the power of its music recommendations. Fans appreciate Spotify's ability to DJ for them.

With playlists like Daily Mix, Discover Weekly, and others delivering content curated by listeners' music tastes, Spotify playlists will likely get the most attention.

However, since they are entirely generated by algorithmic choices, no artist can intentionally have their music placed in them.

Rather, these playlists are curated purely by Spotify’s mix of algorithmic rules that make choices based on what it thinks will engage the listener.

So the only way to get your music on these Spotify playlists is by making music that resonates with your audience or a niche of music listeners.

And of course, growing your following organically and building your presence on the platform won’t hurt either.

One of Spotify’s most overlooked categories of playlists are the independent ones made by fans, artists and external curators.

These are playlists made outside of Spotify’s control by listeners like you.

Getting your music on these playlists is a much more achievable goal since you can reach out to the curator directly with your music.

Artist-made playlists are also an interesting option for getting your music on a well-trafficked playlist.

Creating an Artist Playlist of your own through your music project’s Artist Playlist is a great way to get your music on a playlist. You must log into your Spotify for Artists profile to create your Artist Playlist.

One strategy is to reach out to artists with a similar sound or following saying that you’ve added them to your playlist and request that they add your music to their Artist Pick playlist.

Building your following by working with other artists to create a community around your music is a time-tested way of growing your audience.

Similar to Spotify’s personalized playlists, Spotify automatically plays music after an album or single finishes playing and it automatically generates a playlist of upcoming tracks once it enters autoplay mode.

The autoplays it generates are built by its algorithm based on similar rules to the ones it uses to generate personalized playlists.

There’s no way to get your music into its autoplay recommendation system other than by creating music that fits into a specific niche or that’s listened to by a specific audience.

Just like the personalized playlists, your engagement metrics and the kind of audience you have will determine whether your music gets recommended.

The first step to getting your music featured anywhere is to release it! If you haven't already, you need to get your music on Spotify.

LANDR offers distribution services that let you do just that: release your music easily, right from your track library.

1. Log into your LANDR account

2. Click on ‘Releases’ in the top menu

3. Upload a lossless file

4. Enter the info for your release (titles, album art, etc.)

With your release set up and ready to launch, you’re prepared for the next step needed to pitch your music to a Spotify Editorial playlist.

If you want to submit your music for playlist consideration you need to give Spotify enough time to review your music.

Currently, the minimum buffer time needed to get your pitch in front of its editorial board is seven, but it’s recommended to give additional time to account for any delays with getting your music delivered to streaming platforms.

LANDR Distribution Pro takes two days to approve and deliver your music, but it can take longer if you want to release it on a specific date.

That’s why adding two to three extra weeks should give you enough buffer time to deliver your music, draft your pitch and promote your upcoming release.

With the release date planned and your music delivered to streaming services, it's time to log into your Spotify for Artists profile and start the pitching process.

With LANDR Distribution you can login to your profile easily by linking your profile to your Spotify account.

But if you don’t use LANDR, head over to the Spotify for Artists page and log in.

Once you’ve logged in, head over to the music tab and find the “Upcoming” section. Any music you’ve delivered to streaming platforms will show up here.

This is also where you’ll find a link to the pitch form where you’ll submit your streaming pitch.

Because you can only submit one song at a time for consideration, make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

If you don’t know what song makes the most sense as your album’s single, ask for feedback from family and friends—your single will be the one that stands out and shines the most.

When you pitch your music to Spotify, you’ll be asked to choose the genres, subgenres and moods that best describe your tracks.

Pick ones that fit your sound, don’t overdo it and expect your music to get more exposure because you chose an inappropriate genre.

Curators are looking for a specific sound, and if your music doesn’t match your submission, it will go straight to the bottom of the pile.

In the written part of your pitch, it’s never a bad idea to suggest a few playlists where you think your music could be a fit.

Research and find the best editorial playlists that match your sound, city and audience. Don’t just choose the highest-profile ones either.

Remember that if you’re just getting started, the playlists where you might be a good fit will likely have a smaller, niche following.

If you’ve played in any past projects or live performances, or if you’ve done a high-profile collaboration, mention it!

Telling Spotify about your community can send signals about who your audience is and where your music might be a good fit.

On our blog, we’ve discussed all the details to take into consideration when building a Spotify playlist pitch in past articles, so if you’re looking for advice and case studies, check out the post here!

Getting your music on a Spotify playlist is a great way to reach new listeners and grow your audience.

While there's no magic formula for guaranteed playlist placement, understanding the different types of playlists and following the strategies outlined in this article can significantly increase your chances.

Remember that building a strong presence on Spotify takes time and effort.

Focus on creating great music, engaging with your fans, and building relationships within the industry, and you'll be well on your way to playlist success.