As a dancer who’s recently taken the plunge into singing, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get your music out there. Trust me, I’ve spent countless nights perfecting my moves on the dance floor, only to find myself now facing a whole new rhythm – the beat of the music industry. But here’s the thing: just like nailing that tricky choreography, promoting your tunes is all about finding the right steps. That’s where playlist curators come in, and boy, are they game-changers!
I’ve been on a wild journey trying to get my tracks noticed, and let me tell you, submitting to playlists has been a total game-changer. It’s like finding the perfect dance partner who can showcase your best moves to the world. So, fellow artists, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out like me, I’ve put together a list of the 10 best playlist curators that could give your music the spotlight it deserves. These are the folks who’ve helped me transition from just moving to the music to actually creating it. Let’s dive in and discover how these playlist maestros can help amplify your sound and get your beats in front of eager ears!
1. Boost Collective
Boost Collective is a comprehensive music distribution and promotion platform that caters specifically to the needs of independent artists. It offers a wide range of services, including music distribution to major digital service providers like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as promotional tools designed to enhance an artist’s visibility and engagement. One of the standout features of Boost Collective is its commitment to transparency and support, providing artists with personalized dashboards to track their campaigns and playlist placements effectively.
The platform has a proven track record of success, having managed over 37,000 campaigns for both emerging and established artists. Boost Collective’s strategy focuses on leveraging playlist exposure to increase listeners, which in turn helps artists gain algorithmic support from platforms like Spotify. This approach has led to significant growth for artists such as Fat Nick and Dampszn, who have seen substantial increases in streams through Boost Collective’s playlist promotions.
Submitting music to Boost Collective is straightforward: artists select their song, choose a suitable package, and place an order. The platform then ensures that the music is placed in playlists that align with the artist’s style within 24-48 hours. This process not only increases the chances of discovery but also provides ongoing momentum through algorithmic playlist placements.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is a prominent and professional music curation platform that has established itself as one of the most significant playlist curators on the internet. Founded by Serena Whitfield, a musician and Oxford graduate with distinction in music studies, the platform takes pride in its meticulous approach to playlist curation. Their team, which includes professional guitarist Jasper Clarke, carefully handpicks each song for their diverse range of playlists, ensuring a high-quality listening experience for their audience.
The platform’s mission revolves around professional playlist curation, eschewing algorithms in favor of a more traditional and accurate method: human ears. Each song undergoes rigorous evaluation before being added to a playlist, considering factors such as production quality, lyrical content, and overall artistic merit. This attention to detail has resulted in over 100,000 followers across their playlists and more than 500 actively curated collections.
Playlist Curator offers a wide variety of themed playlists catering to different moods, occasions, and musical preferences. From uplifting “Songs About the Sun and Sunshine” to introspective “Songs About Surrender,” the platform covers a broad spectrum of emotions and themes. Their playlists are available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud, making them easily accessible to listeners worldwide.
For artists looking to submit their music, Playlist Curator provides a straightforward submission process. However, they maintain strict criteria for selection, emphasizing the importance of quality and thematic relevance. The platform receives hundreds of submissions each month, carefully considering each one before making decisions on inclusion. While they don’t guarantee acceptance, this rigorous process ensures that only the best tracks make it onto their popular playlists.
3. MySphera
MySphera is a freemium Spotify playlisting service that connects artists with curators, aiming to match music with tastemakers. Since its inception in 2018, MySphera has offered both free submissions through curator contact forms and paid campaigns that pitch songs to a broader range of curators. The platform supports a variety of genres, with particular strength in Hip-hop, EDM, Lofi, and Electronic music.
The service operates on a “reach potential” model rather than guaranteeing plays, focusing on the follower count of playlists rather than average streams. This approach has its limitations, especially given the prevalence of fake followers and botted streams in the industry. However, MySphera can be an effective tool for generating buzz and potentially landing on algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly or Release Radar.
Artists considering MySphera should be mindful of genre compatibility, as success rates vary significantly across different musical styles. While it can be a useful component in a broader promotional strategy, some users suggest investing resources in other promotional activities that may offer more tangible returns.
4. Indiemono
Indiemono is a platform dedicated to supporting independent music by offering free submission tools for indie artists seeking playlist placements. Known for its focus on alternative and indie genres, Indiemono provides a valuable opportunity for artists to boost their streaming figures legitimately.
The platform prides itself on being an alternative to the mainstream music industry, emphasizing the discovery of new talent through Spotify playlists. Indiemono curates a variety of playlists across different genres, making it an attractive option for artists looking to reach new audiences without incurring submission fees.
Indiemono’s user-friendly submission process allows artists to easily submit their tracks for consideration. By focusing on independent music and providing free access to playlist curators, Indiemono plays a crucial role in helping emerging artists gain exposure and grow their fanbase organically.
5. For the Love of Bands
For the Love of Bands is an indie music blog and Spotify playlist curator based in the Netherlands, launched in 2016. The platform has established itself as a significant player in the independent music scene, focusing primarily on indie, upcoming, and emerging bands and artists. With a substantial following across various social media platforms, For the Love of Bands offers artists an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to a dedicated audience of indie music enthusiasts.
The curator accepts submissions across a wide range of genres, including alternative rock, pop punk, indie rock, punk rock, and singer-songwriter styles. They are particularly interested in music that is authentic, catchy, creative, and energetic. Artists looking to submit their work should ensure their music aligns with the curator’s preferred genres and mood attributes.
For the Love of Bands offers several services to artists, including adding songs to their Spotify playlists, conducting interviews, providing detailed advice and feedback, and sharing music on their channels. Their commitment to supporting independent artists makes them a valuable resource for musicians looking to expand their reach and connect with new listeners.
6. Simon Field
Simon Field is an independent Spotify playlist curator who has been gaining traction in the music curation space. Known for his growing following, Simon Field offers artists a unique opportunity to tap into his audience and gain new listeners. His playlists primarily focus on deep house music, making him an excellent choice for electronic music producers and artists in related genres.
What sets Simon Field apart is his dedication to supporting emerging artists. By featuring lesser-known tracks alongside more established ones, he creates a diverse listening experience that benefits both artists and listeners. Artists looking to submit their music to Simon Field should ensure their tracks align with his deep house focus and maintain high production quality.
To increase your chances of being featured on Simon Field’s playlists, it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with his curation style and the type of music he typically includes. This research will help you tailor your submission and potentially increase your chances of being selected.
7. Daily Playlists
Daily Playlists is a popular independent Spotify playlist curator that offers a unique platform for artists to showcase their music. What sets Daily Playlists apart is its approach to curation – it features a collection of playlists curated by various music enthusiasts and influencers, providing a diverse range of musical tastes and genres.
The platform operates on a dual model, offering both free and premium submission options. Artists can use free “Standard” credits to submit their music to various playlists without any guarantee of placement. Alternatively, they can opt for the Premium side of the platform, where submissions are made to vetted curators who provide either a placement or guaranteed feedback on the submission.
Daily Playlists emphasizes the importance of proper genre selection when submitting music. They advise artists to listen to playlists before submitting to ensure a good match between their song and the playlist’s style. Additionally, they encourage artists to submit both new releases and older tracks from their catalog, recognizing that promoting a diverse range of music can help artists find new audiences and increase streams.
For artists looking to maximize their chances of success on Daily Playlists, it’s crucial to carefully select appropriate playlists, ensure high-quality production, and craft compelling pitch messages. By leveraging both the free and premium options, artists can expand their reach and potentially gain valuable exposure to new listeners.
8. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is a platform that connects independent artists with playlist curators, offering a unique approach to music promotion. The service operates on a model where curators are paid to review and potentially add submitted tracks to their playlists. To become a curator on SoundCampaign, individuals must have a playlist with at least 20 tracks and 1,000 genuine followers, ensuring a level of quality and reach for participating artists.
One of the standout features of SoundCampaign is its commitment to providing value to both artists and curators. Artists receive honest feedback on their submissions, even if their track isn’t selected for a playlist. This feedback can be invaluable for emerging artists looking to improve their craft. Curators, on the other hand, are compensated based on a 15-position ranking system, with rewards ranging from $1 to $14 per review depending on the playlist’s rank.
However, it’s worth noting that the effectiveness of SoundCampaign campaigns can vary. In one case study, an artist spent $155 for a campaign that resulted in 188 streams, equating to about $0.83 per stream. This outcome was considered less favorable compared to other promotion services.
9. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a premium Spotify playlist pitching service that boasts a network of over 4,000 playlists. The platform aims to connect independent artists with playlist curators, offering a more extensive reach than some of its competitors. Playlist Push employs an AI-powered algorithm to match songs with appropriate playlists and creators, increasing the likelihood of successful placements.
One of the key features of Playlist Push is its rigorous vetting process for curators. This ensures that the engagement on playlists is authentic and that streams generated are organic. The platform also offers a user-friendly dashboard where artists can access advanced analytics and placement data.
However, the premium nature of the service is reflected in its pricing. Campaigns on Playlist Push can be significantly more expensive than other platforms, with some costing as much as a used car. While this higher price point may lead to placements on larger playlists, it’s important for artists to consider the cost-effectiveness of their promotional efforts.
10. SubmitHub
SubmitHub is a popular platform that connects artists with playlist curators, music bloggers, and industry professionals. It offers a more affordable alternative to premium services like Playlist Push, making it accessible to a wider range of artists. The platform allows artists to submit their music directly to curators, with the option to use free or premium credits.
One of the strengths of SubmitHub is its transparency. Artists can see detailed information about each curator, including their preferences, average response time, and approval rate. This allows for more targeted submissions and potentially higher success rates. Additionally, SubmitHub requires curators to provide feedback on submissions, which can be valuable for artists looking to improve their music.
However, success on SubmitHub often depends on the artist’s ability to research and target appropriate curators. Many users recommend carefully reviewing curator preferences and listening to their playlists before submitting. It’s also worth noting that while SubmitHub can be effective for getting playlist placements and blog features, the impact on streaming numbers can vary widely.