Spotify’s Playlist Submission Tool is available for artists and labels to submit marketing and promotion information about their releases to Spotify’s global editorial team.
The tool aims to streamline the pitching process for submitting unreleased songs to Spotify’s playlist curators, making it easier for them to discover new music and build the best possible playlists on the platform. While AWAL has direct access to the Playlist Tool, artists and their teams should make sure to submit their track through the tool via Spotify for Artists.
Please keep the following in mind while using Spotify’s Playlist Submission Tool:
1 - Timing is of the essence
You must submit your upcoming release through Spotify’s Playlist Submission Tool at least 7 days before your scheduled release date. Doing so ensures your track populates in your followers' Release Radar playlists on release week. Your release must be successfully delivered to Spotify first in order to locate the track in Spotify for Artists.
Note: See our Knowledge Base article here for more details on monitoring delivery to Spotify. Please get in touch with us if you see your track has been delivered but are unable to view the release in Spotify for Artists.
2 - Choose the right track
Once you see your release in Spotify for Artists, you can click on ‘Submit’ and choose one unreleased track. You can only submit one unreleased track per artist at any time, so if you’re releasing multiple products as part of your release plan (for example, 2 singles leading up to an EP) you should submit the most imminent release through the tool first. Once that release goes live, you can submit your next release and so on.
If your release is a single, you’ll be submitting market drivers and information related directly to that track. However, if your upcoming release is an EP or album, you’ll need to select the focus track that best represents you as an artist, your release, and the most tailored for the market.
Tip: It’s best practice to select a focus track that you have not already submitted through the Playlist Tool previously on another release.
3 - Main genre and subgenres
You’ll be asked to input your track’s metadata, starting with the genre. Select the main genre and up to three subgenres. With all of the options available, we encourage you to tag additional subgenres where possible to widen the scope of potential genre-based playlists your track can get placed on.
4 - Music culture, moods, song styles, and language
You will be able to select up to three music cultures that cover music language, cultural influence and the location where the artist made the music. Additionally, you have the option to include up to two moods and two song styles. We strongly recommend completing these four optional sections to distinguish your track for editors around the globe who are searching for tracks in a particular market to include in mood-style playlists.
The language of your lyrics also helps ensure that your track gets in front of the right editors. For instance, with Spanish lyrics you may be able to get playlisted on South America playlists!
5 - Instruments on the track
We advise you to fill in this optional section to help your song stand out from other submissions, particularly if you are using unique instruments like the Djembe or Ukulele. These instruments offer a distinct style that could increase the chance of your track surfacing to an editor as they put together playlists with similar sounds.
6 - Check your artist profile and social media links
On the third page of the submission, you will see your artist profile. In this section, you can verify your social handles which can be modified in your Spotify for Artists account.
7 - A city you associate with
If you don’t associate with any particular city, you can pick one of your top cities on Spotify.
8 - Describe your release
Here you can tell editors anything else you would like them to know about your release in 500 characters or less. You should communicate your marketing drivers: radio support, online and press pick up, touring information, and more. To make the most use of this space, consider sharing new information that they wouldn’t already know. This is a space to share more unique information about your track to the editorial teams at Spotify and encourage them to take time to listen.
9 - Updates and edits
Once your unreleased song is submitted, you’ll have up to the day before the scheduled release date to edit or withdraw your information. Don’t forget to update your submission if any notable market drivers come in after your initial submission!