Free Spotify Playlist Submission: How to Get Your Music Featured

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms in the world, with over 500 million users globally. As a musician, getting your music featured on a playlist can significantly boost your visibility and help you reach new audiences. While major playlists like Spotify’s editorial playlists (e.g., “Today's Top Hits,” “New Music Friday”) are highly competitive and typically require a certain level of industry clout, there are free Spotify playlist submission services and smaller curators who may be more accessible for emerging artists.

In this article, we’ll explore what free Spotify playlist submission is, how you can submit your tracks to playlists, and some useful tips for increasing your chances of success.

What is Free Spotify Playlist Submission?

Free Spotify playlist submission refers to the process of submitting your music to curators or platforms that create playlists on Spotify, without any fees or charges. These playlists may vary in genre, size, and reach, but the idea is to increase your exposure by getting your songs featured in curated lists that can help attract more listeners.

Unlike paid services, where you may have to pay a fee to submit to specific playlists or curators, free submission options allow you to bypass financial barriers and still get your music heard by potential fans. These free services are especially valuable for independent artists and emerging musicians looking to grow their fan base without breaking the bank.

How to Submit Your Music for Free to Spotify Playlists

There are several ways to submit your music to Spotify playlists for free. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the submission process:

1. Submit Your Music to Spotify Editorial Playlists via Spotify for Artists

If you want to get your track on one of Spotify's popular editorial playlists, you can submit it through Spotify for Artists. Here's how:

1. Claim Your Artist Profile: If you haven’t already, you’ll need to claim your artist profile on Spotify for Artists (https://artists.spotify.com/). This will allow you to access all the tools and features that Spotify provides for musicians.
2. Upload Your Music: Once your track is live on Spotify, go to the “Music” tab and choose the song or album you want to submit for playlist consideration.
3. Submit for Editorial Playlists: Spotify allows you to submit songs for editorial playlist inclusion at least 7 days before the release date. When you submit, you’ll be asked to provide some details about the track, such as its genre, mood, instruments, and any relevant context (e.g., collaborations, press coverage, upcoming tour, etc.). Spotify curators will use this information to help determine whether your track fits into one of their curated playlists.

2. Use Free Playlist Submission Sites

There are many online platforms where you can submit your tracks to independent curators and third-party playlists for free. Some of the most popular options include:

• Submithub: A platform that connects artists with playlist curators, blogs, YouTube channels, and influencers. While Submithub does have paid options, there is also a free tier that allows you to submit your tracks to curators.
• Playlist Push: This service connects artists with playlist curators. Though Playlist Push is primarily a paid platform, they occasionally offer free submission opportunities or trials that allow you to get your music featured.
• Indie Mono: Indie Mono is a free playlist submission service that accepts submissions from independent musicians. It hosts various curated playlists across multiple genres, and it’s a great platform for emerging artists.
• Groover: While Groover typically requires payment, it offers free submission opportunities to certain curators, allowing you to get your track on a playlist or blog without paying a fee.
• Daily Playlists: Another free service that helps artists submit their music to a wide range of curated playlists. While Daily Playlists operates on a submission basis, they do not charge artists a fee for submission.

3. Reach Out to Independent Playlist Curators Directly

While playlist submission platforms are a convenient way to reach multiple curators at once, you can also find and reach out to independent curators directly via social media, email, or their websites. Many curators are open to submissions, especially from emerging artists, and they may have a specific submission process for you to follow.

Some tips for contacting playlist curators:

• Personalize your message: Mention why your track fits their playlist, and try to make a connection with the curator’s taste and style.
• Provide high-quality links: Ensure that your music is easily accessible on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud. Avoid sending attachments, as curators typically prefer streaming links.
• Be concise: Respect the curator’s time by keeping your message short and to the point. Mention key details like the genre, release date, and any relevant promotional activity (e.g., press coverage, radio play, or previous playlist placements).

4. Submit to Genre-Specific and Niche Playlists

Many smaller, genre-specific playlists exist across Spotify, and curators of these playlists are often more open to submissions from independent artists. Whether you create indie pop, electronic, jazz, classical, or niche genres like vaporwave or synthwave, there are playlists dedicated to almost every musical style. Many of these curators are passionate about discovering new talent and may be more willing to add emerging tracks to their playlists.

Here are a few tips for targeting genre-specific playlists:

• Search Spotify for smaller playlists: Explore related playlists within your genre. You can start by typing relevant keywords into the search bar and seeing what playlists come up.
• Use hashtags: Many playlist curators use hashtags like #IndiePop, #AlternativeRock, or #ElectronicMusic when promoting their playlists. Searching for these hashtags on platforms like Instagram and Twitter can help you find curators who specialize in your genre.
• Engage with niche communities: Many curators run their playlists through specific communities (e.g., Reddit, Discord, or Facebook groups) where they’re more likely to accept submissions from active members.

5. Promote Your Music and Build a Following

Getting your music on playlists is important, but building a loyal following is just as crucial for long-term success. Promoting your music on social media, engaging with your fans, and building your own presence on Spotify can make curators more likely to notice you. Many curators prefer to see that an artist already has some level of following or engagement before adding their music to a playlist.

Additionally, when submitting to playlists, it’s helpful to have strong press coverage, strong social proof, and engagement metrics that demonstrate your song's potential to perform well on a playlist.

Why Should You Submit to Playlists?

Playlists are one of the primary ways people discover new music on Spotify. By getting featured on a popular or niche playlist, you can:

1. Gain More Listeners: Playlists expose your music to a wider audience, often beyond your current fan base. If your track is added to a playlist with thousands or millions of followers, it can significantly increase your streams and visibility.
2. Boost Your Spotify Algorithm: Being featured on playlists can also improve how Spotify’s algorithm recommends your music to other users. The more streams and saves you get, the more likely it is that your song will appear on Spotify’s personalized recommendations like Release Radar, Discover Weekly, or Spotify Radio.
3. Create Opportunities for Further Promotion: Getting on playlists can attract the attention of other industry professionals, such as music bloggers, PR companies, record labels, or even other playlist curators, who may help you with additional promotion or opportunities.
4. Increase Revenue: More plays can lead to more royalties, which can help sustain your music career. While Spotify’s payouts are generally low per stream, playlists can help you accumulate more plays and, consequently, more revenue.

Tips for Successful Playlist Submissions

To maximize your chances of getting added to playlists, here are some additional tips:

• Follow the submission guidelines: Curators often have specific rules for how to submit your music. Make sure you follow them precisely to avoid being disqualified.
• Quality matters: Ensure that your track is professionally mixed and mastered. A high-quality track is more likely to stand out than a poorly produced one.
• Be patient and persistent: Playlist curators receive a high volume of submissions. If your track isn’t added right away, don’t get discouraged. Keep submitting to different playlists and stay persistent in promoting your music.

Conclusion

Submitting your music to Spotify playlists can be a game-changer for your music career, especially when you can do so for free. Whether you use Spotify for Artists to submit to editorial playlists, leverage free submission platforms like Submithub or Indie Mono, or directly reach out to playlist curators, the opportunity to get your music heard by new audiences is invaluable.

While the competition can be fierce, the key to success is to be proactive, patient, and strategic in your approach. With the right submission tactics and a solid promotional strategy, getting featured on playlists can lead to greater exposure, increased streams, and a growing fan base—without spending a dime.