How to Use Deezer Playlists as a Marketing Tool for Your Music

If you’re an artist or label, getting featured on a Deezer playlist can significantly expand your visibility, attract new fans, and strengthen your broader marketing strategy. Playlists are one of the main discovery channels on Deezer, driving sustained streams, increased engagement, and long-term audience growth beyond the initial placement.

In this article, you’ll learn how Deezer playlists work, what types of playlists exist on the platform, how to pitch your music effectively, and how playlist exposure can increase your streams, strengthen fan engagement, and help you reach ACPS (Artist-Centric Payment System) thresholds for higher payouts.

Read our guide “What is Deezer?” to find out more about the streaming service and explore everything artists need to know about the platform in 2026.

Deezer offers three types of playlists, which all come with their own benefits for artists: user-generated, algorithmic, and editorial playlists. The general rule is that the more popular, up-to-date, and well-curated the playlist you’re featured on, the greater your chances of attracting engaged fans and increasing your streams. At the same time, niche playlists with a smaller but active following can also be valuable, especially if your music fits the audience closely.

User-generated playlists are created and curated by listeners. They’re typically built for personal use, but they can also have a wider reach if curated by, for example, a DJ, blogger, brand, or someone with influence in a specific scene, location, or niche. While they don’t come with official platform backing, they can still drive meaningful streams and help you grow organically.

Algorithmic playlists are put together automatically based on listening behavior. They can be generated from a song, artist, album, or a listener’s personal taste profile. These playlists contain tracks that the algorithm categorizes as similar, or similar enough, in genre, mood, or energy to match the source track. On Deezer, this includes personalized features like Flow and other recommendation-based mixes. Algorithmic playlists can generate a high volume of streams once your song gains traction.

Editorial playlists are the ones artists and labels are usually most interested in. These are curated directly by Deezer’s in-house editorial teams and often have a wide reach across genres, moods, and regions. Being featured on an official editorial playlist can significantly increase your exposure. In addition, streams generated from these playlists qualify for the ACPS discovery boost, which can increase the value of those streams within Deezer’s payout system.

The benefits of receiving editorial support on Deezer go beyond the potential to increase visibility. Under Deezer’s Artist-Centric Payment System (ACPS), the source of a stream can directly influence how much it contributes to your revenue generated on the platform. Tracks discovered through Deezer’s official editorial playlists qualify for a discovery boost under ACPS. This means that when a listener finds your music via a playlist curated by Deezer’s editorial team, those streams carry additional weight within the payout model.

By contrast, streams from algorithmic playlists (such as personalized mixes created by Deezer’s recommendation system) do not receive the editorial discovery boost. These streams still count toward your overall revenue, performance, and engagement, but they are treated as standard streams under ACPS. The same applies to user-generated playlists. Streams coming from playlists created by listeners, brands, or independent curators are counted as regular streams and do not qualify for the editorial discovery boost.

Before you can pitch anything, you need to make your music available on Deezer through an official distributor like us. Learn more about how to upload music to Deezer with iMusician. Once your music is online, make sure your artist profile on Deezer looks professional and complete. You can update your image, bio, and social links through Deezer for Creators. An optimized profile increases your credibility with editors and listeners. If someone discovers you through a playlist, your profile should immediately clarify who you are and what you do.

Independent artists must submit their music for editorial consideration via their digital distributor. Most approved distributors offer access to Deezer’s editorial pitching process before release. If you’re running a label, you can pitch directly through the Deezer Pitching Tool inside Deezer for Creators. Make sure you submit your release at least 7 days before the official release date to maximize your chances of review.

Read our article about Deezer for labels to learn more about the pitching tool and everything else labels need to know about the platform.

Beyond official playlists, many independent curators create popular public playlists on Deezer. Platforms like Soundplate allow you to submit your tracks to playlist curators for consideration. While these placements don’t qualify for the editorial ACPS boost, they can still drive meaningful streams, engagement, and new listeners.

Don’t rely only on external playlists. Creating your own playlists allows you to showcase your music alongside complementary artists and influences. Start with a playlist featuring your own catalog, then build themed playlists around moods, genres, or scenes. Update them regularly to stay relevant and encourage repeat listening.

A playlist placement alone is not enough, you should also amplify it. Share your Deezer playlist links across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, newsletters, and your website. The more traffic you drive to Deezer, the stronger your engagement signals become, which can positively impact algorithmic recommendations and overall performance.

The biggest official playlists on Deezer are managed by in-house editorial teams who make placement decisions based on performance data, genre expertise, regional trends, and cultural relevance. As we explained earlier, submissions must go through a distributor (or through a label using the Deezer Pitching Tool). However, beyond official editorial playlists, there is a large ecosystem of independent curators who manage public playlists on Deezer. These playlist owners can be bloggers, influencers, brands, media outlets, or passionate music fans.

If you want to do outreach yourself, start by researching playlists in your genre on Deezer and identifying active curators whose playlists fit your sound. Focus on relevance rather than size. A highly targeted niche playlist can often generate more meaningful engagement than a large but poorly matched one. Next, check whether the curators of the playlists provide contact details or submission links. Once you’ve found the right contacts, send out short, professional, personalized pitches, either via email or through the according submission form.

For more structured outreach, platforms like the aforementioned Soundplate offer Deezer-specific playlist submission opportunities. They help connect artists with independent curators, though placements are never guaranteed. You can also try our editorial playlist pitching services to increase your chances of getting featured on a playlist on platforms like Deezer, Spotify, or Apple Music.

The key to successful playlist outreach is relationship-building, which means approaching it thoughtfully and professionally. Long-term, consistent, and respectful communication is far more effective than aggressive one-off promotional pushes. Follow curators, engage with their playlists, take the time to understand their taste, and personalize your outreach. Instead of expecting immediate support, focus on building genuine connections that create value on both sides.

Playlists play a central role in how music gains traction today. Strategic placements can introduce your tracks to new audiences, strengthen fan engagement, and build momentum beyond a single release cycle. In 2026, growth on streaming platforms like Deezer depends on consistency, data awareness, and smart promotion. By understanding how editorial, algorithmic, and user-generated playlists function and using them intentionally, you can turn Deezer into a powerful driver of long-term career development.