How to Get Your Song on Spotify Editorial Playlists

Spotify editorial playlists are official playlists curated by Spotify’s in-house team of editors. Unlike algorithmic or user-generated playlists, these are hand-picked collections of tracks designed to introduce listeners to fresh music that matches a specific mood, genre, theme, holiday, or cultural moment.

Spotify is not the only major streaming platform that curates editorial playlists — others like Apple Music, Deezer, or Amazon Music do as well. However, what makes Spotify’s playlists stand out is the platform’s massive audience. As of Q4 2024, Spotify has about 602 million monthly active users, compared to around 94 million on Apple Music, 78.9 million on Amazon Music, and 180 million on SoundCloud.

Spotify’s editorial playlists also command some of the biggest followings in the streaming world. For example, Today’s Top Hits, Spotify's most popular playlist, has 34.94 million followers, while Top Global has 17.09 million and RapCaviar has 15.98 million followers. Getting featured on just one of the platform’s editorial playlists can skyrocket an artist’s track into a large pool (literally millions) of listeners. This, in turn, can have a truly transformative impact on the artist. It can:

• Drive a huge spike in streams and followers.

• Build credibility with fans, labels, and the industry.

• Kickstart your momentum on other platforms and playlists (algorithmic and user-generated often follow).

• Open doors to industry opportunities, from label interest to booking offers.

This is why editorial playlist placement is often considered the holy grail of streaming success — and why understanding how to get your song on Spotify editorial playlists is so essential.

Now that you know why editorial playlists are so powerful, let’s look at how to actually get your music in front of Spotify’s curators. Spotify is one of the few major streaming platforms that gives artists two options for submitting their songs for editorial playlist consideration: either independently through Spotify for Artists or with a professional pitching service.

Spotify gives every artist the chance to submit their upcoming, unreleased songs directly to its editorial team via Spotify for Artists. Here’s how the process goes:

1. Distribute your track to Spotify through a distributor like iMusician. Check our article on how to upload music to Spotify for more information!

2. Go to artists.spotify.com and claim your Spotify for Artists profile if you haven’t already.

3. In your dashboard, head to the “Home” at the top → “Pitch a song to our editors”, or navigate to “Music” at the top → “Upcoming” → “Pitch a song.”

4. Choose the specific track (so-called focus track) that you’d like to pitch.

5. Fill out the submission form in detail. The information will include: genre, mood, styles, language, instruments, type of recording, location, and, most importantly, the story behind your track. More details will give your song a better chance at getting playlisted.

6. Review and submit your track. Your pitch will now be reviewed by Spotify’s editorial team.

7. See if your song gets playlisted.

If you want to save time and dramatically increase your odds, a professional pitching service can handle the process on your behalf. These are usually offered through a distributor or a label.

With a service like iMusician’s editorial playlist pitching, you’ll have a team of experts handle your submission process, helping you refine it to maximize your chances of getting playlisted and pitching it directly to Spotify’s editorial team on your behalf. Here’s how it works:

1. Select Editorial Playlist Pitching during the release process.

2. Choose a suitable release Date. Pick a date at least 20 working days in advance to give our team enough time to review your track.

3. Pick your focus track.

4. Review and Submit your Release. Our team of experts will review and listen to your track carefully.

5. Complete the submission form you will receive if your song is selected for playlist pitching consideration.

6. We pitch directly to Spotify’s editorial team, then notify you if your track gets playlisted

Both options provide a valid way to submit your track for playlist placement, so you won’t go wrong choosing one over the other. However, the difference comes down to experience and reach.

Submitting through Spotify for Artists is free, but the pitch is entirely in your hands — meaning no expert review, no guidance, and no multi-platform reach (you can only submit to Spotify, not Apple Music, Beatport, or other platforms).

It is estimated that Spotify editors receive about 20,000 track submissions daily, making the competition truly intense. Editors are looking for clear, professional, and compelling pitches that stand out and exactly match what their playlist listeners want. A rushed or weak pitch could harm your chances.

By contrast, working with a professional pitching service, such as the one from iMusician, can significantly enhance your success rate. Yes, these services may involve a fee, but they often pay off, even though a playlist placement is never guaranteed.

Teams of experts at distribution companies or record labels typically have years of experience, develop expertise in their field, and maintain strong relationships with Spotify’s editors. As a result, they understand the best way to pitch your song and what information curators look for in an artist’s track submission.

And what’s more, their reach extends far beyond Spotify — with a professional service like iMusician’s, your track is typically pitched not only to Spotify but also to Apple Music, Deezer, Beatport, and more, multiplying your opportunities. For those reasons, a professional pitching service is often the smarter, more strategic choice — saving time and effort while maximizing your chances of getting featured.

You’ll often hear that Spotify playlist curators don’t just want to know what your track sounds like — they want to understand the story, context, and audience behind it. At the same time, strong metadata (genres, moods, instruments, language) is just as important. A great playlist pitch is about balancing technical accuracy with authentic storytelling. Here’s some of our most essential advice on making your submission stand out.

When pitching through Spotify for Artists or a professional service, you need to select the genres, subgenres, moods, and styles that best describe your track—Spotify refers to this as ‘tagging’. Keep in mind that many editorial playlists focus on a specific genre, so choosing the right tags can help you find the most suitable playlist for your music.

Be specific and precise. Editors often build playlists around a very particular sound. If your pitch says “chill lo-fi” but the track sounds more like upbeat hip hop, curators will probably pass.

This also serves as a warning for those who want to “game the system” by picking extra or unrelated genres to boost their chances. More is not better — instead, mismatched tags can hurt your pitch. Think about where your song fits naturally and align your metadata accordingly.

Since you can only submit one song at a time, there’s a lot of pressure on the track you choose. However, while it’s generally recommended to pitch a song that has the most punch, hit potential, or showcases your unique style, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for the perfect focus track.

Music is subjective, and even if your track fits the genre and mood of a particular playlist, a curator might still select a different song. This is just the risk you take with playlist pitching.

It’s therefore essential to pitch a track you’re most proud of and that best represents you as an artist—the ‘it’ song you want your fans to sing along with at concerts. Focus on what feels genuine and authentic to you, and make your choices even stronger by explaining to curators why you picked it and what it means to you.

Metadata matters, but so does context. Don’t just write “this is a chill lo-fi track.” Instead, describe how you created it, the emotions it conveys, and why it would resonate with listeners.

You can try something like this: “I wrote this track late at night while struggling with insomnia. Its layered guitar loops and soft beats mirror the restless but calm energy of those hours. Fans often tell me it helps them focus while studying or winding down.”

Keep it short, clear, and emotion-driven — there’s no need for an essay, just a few strong sentences that highlight the inspiration, meaning, and vibe of your song.

Playlist pitches aren’t just about the track; they also highlight you as an artist. While technically, any artist has a chance of getting playlisted, past achievements, projects, big performances, or notable collaborations can greatly boost your chances.

Any sign of success shows the editors that your music has already connected with an audience and is likely to do so again. So, don’t hesitate to mention recent milestones like press coverage, previous playlist placements, or show career highlights that indicate traction , such as growing social media numbers or chart success.

The more credibility you demonstrate, the more confidence editors will have that your track will connect with their playlist’s audience.

Spotify’s editorial team typically reviews submissions before the release date, and most placements occur on or shortly after the release. Given the large volume of songs curators receive daily, timing is crucial.

While the minimum review time is 7 days before release, it’s generally recommended to submit your song for playlist placement several weeks in advance – ideally 3–6 weeks before your release date — regardless of your pitching method.

When using a playlist pitching service, your track should usually be uploaded at least 20 or 21 days prior. This allows the team to listen carefully, strategize, and optimize your pitch — increasing your chances of being playlisted not only on Spotify but also on Apple Music, Beatport, Deezer, and more.

Getting your track on a Spotify editorial playlist is a dream for many artists — and with the right approach, it’s more than possible to get a spot. The key steps are:

• Distribute and submit your unreleased track through Spotify for Artists or a pitching service.

• Craft a compelling pitch that highlights not just the sound, but the story and context.

• Submit early to give editors enough time to review.

• Stay consistent — every new release is another chance to be discovered.

And remember: you don’t have to do it alone. With iMusician’s Editorial Playlist Pitching, you gain expert guidance, cross-platform reach, and significantly higher odds of success.