How EDM Artists Can Get Featured on Beatport Playlists

The key thing to know: you can’t pitch directly to Beatport’s editorial team. Submissions are handled exclusively through distributors and trusted professional pitching services.

To maximize your chances, you must:

• Submit early (ideally 3–6 weeks before release).

• Ensure pro-level mixing and mastering.

• Tag your genre and sub-genre accurately

• Work with a distributor that offers editorial playlist pitching.

While Spotify and Apple Music dominate mainstream streaming, Beatport is where DJs, producers, and electronic music fans discover new music. Unlike other platforms, Beatport isn’t just for passive listening — it’s a professional marketplace where tracks are bought, sold, and played in clubs and festivals worldwide.

Landing a playlist placement there is far more than a visibility boost — it can directly impact your sales, credibility, and long-term career growth.

It’s essential to note that on Beatport, electronic artists, DJs, and producers not only have the opportunity to showcase their work but can also sell their tracks directly to other DJs and producers, who can then reuse them in their own remixes.

This means that when a DJ discovers your track on a Beatport playlist, they're not just streaming it — they're potentially purchasing it to play in their sets. This creates a unique revenue stream that doesn't exist on other platforms. Additionally, DJs who purchase and play your music become ambassadors for your sound, introducing it to new, global audiences each time they perform.

The initial exposure from playlist placement can be just the start of your track’s overall impact. Every purchase also helps push your release higher in the Beatport charts, which further increases its visibility. Eventually, that momentum from Beatport can spill over into other platforms, leading to even more streams and downloads elsewhere.

A playlist feature on Beatport acts as an endorsement of your work, almost like a stamp of approval. It signals to the electronic music scene — fans, DJs, and labels — that your music has quality and appeal, and is professional and playlist-worthy.

What gets recognized by the wider music industry is rarely hidden from record labels, which are more likely to notice and sign artists with known support and previous endorsements.

However, potential opportunities from a playlist placement aren’t limited to labels. You might also attract the attention of other producers and DJs, who could reach out for remixes or collaborative projects, or promoters looking for artists to perform whose tracks have already resonated with DJs.

Beatport's audience tends to demonstrate remarkable loyalty to electronic songs that truly resonate with them. Unlike pop music, which often peaks within weeks on mainstream platforms, electronic tracks can stay relevant for months or even years, as DJs recycle strong tracks across live sets, festivals, and mixes long after release.

This longevity means that a single Beatport playlist placement can continue generating value long after the initial feature, keeping your music alive in the underground and mainstream EDM circuits.

A spot on a Beatport playlist isn’t just about temporary sales and attention, even if it lasts longer because of your track’s extended popularity. It’s also not just about one single release. Instead, it can influence your entire catalog and shape your future. Greater exposure can grow your fanbase and lead to more followers on Beatport, SoundCloud, and other streaming and social media platforms.

This also applies to networking. DJs who support your tracks may become valuable contacts in the industry, introducing you to more significant industry relationships and opportunities. And eventually, a well-received track can open doors to better label deals and remix opportunities.

Put simply: for electronic musicians, Beatport playlists are more than just a collection of tracks—they can be a launchpad for their careers. By getting your music into the right hands, you gain exposure, credibility, and opportunities that can shape your future in the industry. Being featured on Beatport playlists helps you reach DJs, tastemakers, and electronic music fans where they actually discover and purchase new music.

Before you start pitching, it’s essential to understand how playlists on Beatport work. Beatport's playlist structure is more complex and specialized than most streaming platforms, reflecting the diverse landscape of electronic music and the unique needs of its community. Understanding these different playlist types is crucial for targeting your submissions more effectively and increasing your chances of visibility.

Similar to other platforms, editorial playlists on Beatport, curated directly by Beatport's in-house team, represent the most valuable and competitive placement opportunities. The staff are trained music curators who are knowledgeable about diverse electronic music genres and trends, and look for tracks that demonstrate exceptional production quality, align with current trends, and fit seamlessly into DJ sets. The editorial team curates a variety of playlists that showcase new releases, highlight emerging artists, or group tracks around specific moods, events, or subgenres.

Unlike Spotify or Apple Music, Beatport does not maintain a single “Editorial” category. Instead, editorial playlists are woven throughout the platform in three main areas:

1. Genre Pages — Each genre section on Beatport (e.g., House, Techno, Drum & Bass, etc.) features editorial playlists, such as Techno Bunker, Best New House, Best New Techno, or Progressive House Selections. These playlists are highly niche, rely on precise tagging, and are updated regularly to highlight the most relevant tracks in the respective style.

2. Homepage Features – Beatport often promotes editorial playlists on its front page, highlighting collections tied to specific contexts, themes, or trends, such as Festival Picks, Afterhours Techno, or On Our Radar.

3. Beatport LINK Playlists Hub – Within Beatport LINK (a premium streaming subscription service created by Beatport), editorial playlists appear alongside artist- and label-curated playlists. DJs and listeners subscribed to Beatport LINK can access them directly and add tracks to their own collections.

Chart-based playlists, such as the Top 100 (overall or genre-specific) or Hype Charts (spotlights tracks from emerging labels), automatically feature tracks based on real-time sales and download performance. This means they are algorithmically driven and appear on Beatport’s homepage and in genre-specific sections.

You cannot pitch directly to these playlists, but understanding them is vital: building early momentum through sales and DJ support is often what propels a track onto these charts, creating a strong feedback loop for visibility.

DJ Charts are curated by individual DJs with a Beatport profile. Typically 10–20 tracks in length, they showcase what a DJ is playing, supporting, or recommending.

Most often, you can find these playlists on every DJ’s Beatport profile page. If the DJ is well-known or high-profile, their playlists are sometimes also showcased on Beatport’s homepage or genre pages.

For fans, these charts present a direct way to discover what their favorite DJs are actually playing in sets. Meanwhile, for DJs, they double as a promotional tool for their own releases (many include their own tracks in charts).

Label playlists function much like DJ Charts, but are created by record labels. They can feature highlights from a label’s catalog, new releases, or thematic collections such as Summer Vibes or Deep Cuts from [Label Name.

These playlists appear on a label’s Beatport profile and sometimes in the Beatport LINK playlists hub. For labels, they are a powerful way to reinforce brand identity and keep DJs engaged with their roster.

Artist playlists are created by artists themselves and serve as a personal showcase of the artist’s taste and influence. They might highlight current inspirations, tracks included in live sets, or simply what the artist is enjoying. Their format can range from small (10–15 tracks) to much larger collections.

Typically, they appear on the artist’s Beatport profile and in Beatport LINK’s curated playlist section, acting as a personal “listening window” into an artist’s musical world, beyond just their own productions.

Any Beatport LINK subscriber — whether a DJ, industry professional, or casual listener — can create custom playlists. These are flexible, user-generated collections that can include any track from Beatport’s catalog.

For DJs, they serve as digital record crates, syncing directly with DJ software programs such as Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor, and VirtualDJ. For listeners, they’re a way to organize favorite tracks into personal collections.

As previously outlined, landing a spot on a Beatport editorial playlist is one of the most valuable opportunities for discovery for electronic artists. However, with over 150,000 tracks submitted each month, competition can be fierce — and small mistakes can quickly ruin your chances of getting playlisted (or even considered).

The truth is that most rejections don’t happen because the music isn’t good enough. They happen because of preventable missteps that artists often make without even realizing it. Here are some of the most common yet avoidable mistakes artists make when submitting their tracks for editorial playlist consideration:

• Submitting unfinished or poorly mastered tracks — Submitting tracks that are poorly mixed or mastered is almost guaranteed to result in rejection. Beatport curators expect professional-level audio that can compete with major label releases and sound powerful on club sound systems.

• Mislabeling genres and sub-genres — Accuracy in genre labelling is crucial. The difference between Tech House and Deep House, for example, might seem minor, but to Beatport curators — and DJs browsing Beatport — these distinctions are fundamental. Genre mismatches can signal a lack of professionalism and instantly hurt your chances.

• Weak or inconsistent branding on your Beatport profile — An incomplete profile with low-quality artwork and no or minimal bio tells curators you’re not serious about your work. Meanwhile, strong visuals, a polished bio, and consistent branding show you’re ready for some professional opportunities.

• Missing submission deadlines — timing is key when it comes to playlist submissions. Beatport, in particular, requires tracks to be pitched at least 3 weeks before their release to give its team enough time to review and consider your pitch. Additionally, professional pitching services (necessary for playlist pitching) often have their own internal deadlines. Late submissions or last-minute release date changes can reduce playlisting chances and disrupt your marketing strategy.

• Ignoring current trends — Beatport playlists are curated to reflect the ever-evolving pulse of the electronic scene. Submitting tracks that feel outdated or don’t align with the current editorial direction makes your submission easy to overlook.

Unlike Spotify or Amazon Music, Beatport does not currently allow artists to pitch directly to its team of curators. Instead, editorial playlist submissions are handled through labels, distributors, and trusted pitching partners who maintain close relationships with Beatport editors.

That means your success depends not only on your music but also on how you prepare and who takes care of your submission. Here’s how to improve your chances of getting playlisted:

• Work with the right distributor — Choose a distributor that delivers to Beatport and offers editorial pitching services, such as iMusician. They will pitch your release to Beatport’s editorial team on your behalf.

• Polish your track — Professional mixing and mastering are non-negotiable for Beatport submissions. Your release should match the quality of established labels when played on professional sound systems. Pay attention to frequency balance, dynamics, and LUFS to ensure your track sounds powerful in clubs and festivals.

• Tag your genres accurately — Genre accuracy requires careful attention to the details of electronic music classification. Take the time to examine how similar tracks are categorized on Beatport and understand the characteristics of and subtle distinctions between each genre and sub-genre. When unsure, do thorough research or ask industry experts who are more familiar with these genres.

• Submit your track early — Upload your track at least 3 weeks in advance (ideally 3–6 weeks). This allows both your distributor and Beatport's editorial team enough time to review, consider, and potentially schedule your track for playlist placement. Earlier submissions often receive more thorough consideration than those submitted closer to deadlines.

• Enhance your online presence — Maintaining a strong social media presence and keeping your Beatport profile up to date shows professionalism and a commitment to your music career. Curators often research artists before featuring their music, and a well-maintained online presence can significantly strengthen your submission.

For Beatport, a professional pitching service isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Since artists can’t currently pitch their release directly to Beatport’s playlist curators, services like iMusician’s Editorial Playlist Pitching serve as the bridge between your music and the editorial team.

But this isn’t where the benefits end. Navigating submission deadlines, formatting requirements, and multiple platforms can quickly become overwhelming, and a professional service can help streamline this process, making sure that your release is delivered in the right way, at the right time.

Another major advantage is experience. Professional pitching services offer expertise and industry connections that individual artists often lack. They understand the specific requirements and preferences of different playlist curators, how genres are categorized, and how to present your release in a way that highlights its strengths. As a result, their insights can make the difference between a submission that gets overlooked and one that stands out.

Many services, including iMusician, also operate across multiple platforms. This means a single submission from you can be simultaneously pitched to Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, and other relevant platforms, maximizing your track's potential reach across the entire digital music landscape.

That said, it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Unfortunately, no pitching service can guarantee playlist placement. Curators ultimately decide based on mood, timing, and fit. These services can provide expert guidance, refined pitching, and a smart strategy that significantly improve your chances of success.

Getting featured on Beatport playlists isn’t easy — but for EDM artists, it can be a game-changer. Beyond streams and sales, it’s about visibility, credibility, and connection with the global DJ community. By submitting fully polished tracks, tagging genres accurately, respecting deadlines, and maintaining a strong professional online presence, you give your music the best chance to stand out among thousands of submissions.

And while not every track will make it into an editorial playlist, each release is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build momentum. Consistency is key. Over time, those efforts compound — leading to stronger industry relationships, better placements, and a lasting reputation within the electronic music scene.

In other words: treat each submission not as a one-off chance, but as part of a larger journey. Whether your track lands on a playlist today or months from now, your dedication to quality and professionalism will keep opening doors — on Beatport and beyond.