A client recently told me, “I don’t want bots. I want to get on Spotify playlists.”
I get it. It sounds clean. Respectable. The dream. But it’s the wrong dream. Spotify playlists aren’t the strategy anymore. Let’s break down why—and what works instead.
Table of Contents
The 3 Types of Spotify Playlists
There are only three types of Spotify playlists, and each comes with its own set of rules, risks, and realities.
1. Spotify Editorial Playlists
These are curated by actual Spotify staff—playlists like New Music Friday, Fresh Finds, and Rap Caviar.
You can submit to them using the official Spotify for Artists pitch form. But there are strict rules:
- Distribute your track at least 4 weeks in advance
- Submit through Spotify for Artists
- Tag it with accurate genres, moods, instruments, etc.
The reality? Most submissions go nowhere. Spotify gets over 100,000 tracks a day. Unless your track is already performing or filling a specific niche, you’ll likely be ignored. Spotify’s internal data—your skip rate, save rate, completion rate—is what really drives placement.
2. Algorithmic Playlists
These include:
- Discover Weekly
- Release Radar
- Radio
- Your Daily Mix
- “Fans Also Like” recommendations
There’s no submission form. These playlists are driven entirely by listener behavior. The only way to get included is by triggering real engagement:
- High save rates
- Repeat listens
- Playlist adds
- Low skip rate
That’s why smart Instagram or YouTube ad campaigns still matter. You’re not buying streams—you’re feeding Spotify data that proves your track is worth promoting.
3. User-Curated Playlists
This is the part most indie artists fixate on—and where most of them go wrong.
Yes, there are a handful of respected curators out there. But they don’t take submissions lightly. If you don’t look like a serious artist, you’re not getting added. No exceptions.
Most curated playlists out there are worthless or fake. Some even run bots, which can get your track pulled or your distributor account flagged. And even the “real” ones? They rarely deliver results. A playlist with 10,000 followers might only have 100 active listeners. If those people skip your track, it’s worse than if you’d never been added at all.
Spotify playlists strategy needs to focus on what actually works—not what looks good on paper.
Can Your Distributor Help? Only If You Act Like a Pro
Here’s what most artists miss: real distributors like The Orchard, AWAL, and Empire can pitch you to Spotify—but only if you do your part first.
And that means delivering something called a marketing driver.
What’s a Marketing Driver?
A driver is the internal pitch document used by your distributor to advocate for your release. It gets sent to DSPs, press contacts, sync teams, and internal staff to determine whether your release should be prioritized.
And it’s not optional.
If you don’t submit a proper driver, your release is not getting pushed. Not by your distributor. Not by Spotify. Not by anyone.
What a Driver Needs to Include
- Private stream/download link
- Social stats with real links
- Focus track info and angle
- Tour dates
- Press coverage or premieres
- Ad budget and platforms
- Sync wins or placements
- Release highlights and story
Sound overwhelming? Good. That’s because most artists aren’t ready. Most can’t answer half of those questions. They upload music with no plan, no content, no system—and wonder why nothing happens.
This is why most Spotify playlists strategies fail. Because the artist never even built the foundation.
The Strategy That Works in 2025
Forget the hacks. Forget chasing playlists. Forget buying your way onto irrelevant curators’ lists.
Here’s what actually works:
- Make strong music that fits a clear identity
- Create visuals and content every week
- Run smart ad campaigns—not cheap ones
- Post consistently, with purpose
- Target the countries and audiences you care about, even if they’re expensive
- Stay in the game for years—not months
Your Spotify playlists strategy should be part of a bigger system—not a wishlist item.
If you’re serious about growth, build a system that earns listeners first. The playlists will come later.
360 Promo is a full-service music marketing, promotion, distribution and admin company. Learn more about us and what we do at 360promo.fm, follow us on Instagram at @360promo and contact us to tailor a plan that works for you.