Do your research

Find the right playlist curators for your music

It’s key that you research to locate Spotify playlist curators who would be a compatible match for your music. A great starting point is by checking the followers and engagement rate of the playlists. If a playlist has lots of followers but low engagement, it’s probable that the curator isn’t as proactive in promoting the music on their playlist. So your song might not get as much attention. It’s also good to check how many tracks are on the playlist and how often it’s updated. If a playlist only has a few tracks and isn’t updated very often, it might not be worth submitting your song to. Yet, if a playlist is regularly updated with new tracks and has a decent number of followers, it could be worth submitting your song to. After finding some playlists that could be a potential match for your song, take some time to listen to the tracks on each one. This will give you a better sense of whether your music would be appropriate for the playlist. After you’ve located some playlists that would be an ideal match for your song, it’s time to start pitching!

Understand what they’re looking for

If you want to have a shot at getting your music on a playlist by cold-pitching a curator, you must first understand what they are looking for. Many artists mistakenly believe that they can submit their music and wait for the best. But if you want to increase your odds of success, you need to put in the effort to comprehend what the curator wants.

A few things to remember:

-The curator’s taste: The most important thing is to ensure that the music you’re sending is something the curator would like. There’s no use in sending a hip hop playlist country music, for example. Listen to the playlist and get an idea of what kind of music they want.

-The playlist’s theme: Most playlists have a particular theme or focus. For example, there might be a playlist for working out, or one that only features female artists. Be sure you understand the theme of the playlist before submitting your music.

-Guidelines for the playlist: A lot of playlists have particular guidelines that you must follow to apply. As an example, some playlists might ask that you submit your song 2 weeks ahead of time, or that you have a least 10,000 Spotify streams. Be sure to read and follow all guidelines before sending in your track.

Make a good first impression

Have a professional looking website

A potential partner might encounter your website before anything else. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that your website looks polished and is current. If you don’t have a website already, consider making one. Platforms like WordPress and Wix make website creation simple and straightforward. Start there if you need to!

Not only should your website look professional. It should also be easy to get around and contain information about your business and what you offer. People who are interested in your services should be able to easily find your contact information and learn more about your company.

If you’re trying to get your music onto playlists curated by others, ensure that your website has a section displaying your work. Curators want to see what kind of music you make before they agree to feature you on their playlist. So, put your best tracks front and center and make it easy for curators to listen to your music.

Have a well-written bio

Your bio is one of the first things that a playlist curator will see when they visit your artist page, so it’s important to make a good first impression. Keep your bio short and sweet, but be sure to include all the relevant information about your music. Apart from basic facts like where you’re from, and what genre(s) you play, be sure to mention any recent accomplishments, such as releases or major shows. If you have an interesting story or background, definitely include that as well!

Send a personalized pitch

Include a link to your music

The first step to take when you’re ready to start pitching your tunes to playlist curators is to include a link to your music. This could be a link to your website, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or any other site where they can listen to your music. If you have more than one song that would be ideal for the playlist, provide links to all them.

Besides to a link to your music, it’s also helpful to include some extra information about yourself and your music. This could include a brief artist bio, information about your latest release, press quotes… or anything else that might give the curator a better sense of who you are and what your music is all about. The more information you can provide, the better.

Thank the curator for their time, and include a call to action letting them know that you’re available if they have any questions or need more information.

Include a link to your website

Make sure to include a link to your website in your email or message when you’re ready to make your pitch. By doing this, you’re giving the recipient an opportunity to learn more about you and your music.

Make sure to include why you think your music would be suitable for the playlist in your pitch. If you have had any past successes with playlist placement, be sure to mention that too. Furthermore, if you have any connections with the person who curates the playlist, make sure to bring that up.

Include a link to one of your tracks that would be appropriate for the playlist in your pitch to make it easy for the playlist curator.

Include a brief description of your music

When contacting playlist curators, personalizing your pitch and including a short description of your music is key. Oftentimes, generic pitches are overlooked, so it’s essential to inform the curator about your style and what sets you apart. If you have any past press or accomplishments worth mentioning, be sure to include them too. Most importantly, remember to include links to your tunes so the curator can listen for themselves.