Editorial playlists — the ones curated by a platform’s own team — can put your music in front of listeners who’ve never heard of you. On Spotify, you don’t need a connection or a label to be considered: any artist with access to Spotify for Artists can submit an upcoming release for editorial consideration. Getting picked is never guaranteed, but not submitting guarantees you’re not in the running.

This guide explains how the editorial pitch process works and how to give yourself the best shot. Playlist pitching is one part of a wider release plan — see A Release Strategy for Independent Artists. It also depends on getting your release out through a distributor with enough lead time, so if you haven’t chosen one, start with How to Choose a Music Distributor, and keep the cost in check with the Distributor Comparison Calculator.

Editorial vs. algorithmic vs. user playlists

It helps to know what you’re actually pitching for. Broadly there are three kinds of playlists:

  • Editorial playlists are curated by the platform’s editorial team. These are what you submit to through Spotify for Artists.
  • Algorithmic playlists are generated automatically based on listening behaviour and are influenced by how your music performs, not by a direct pitch.
  • User and third-party playlists are made by other listeners and curators, reached through other means entirely.

The official pitch process applies to editorial playlists. Strong performance from an editorial placement — or from your own promotion — can in turn feed the algorithmic playlists, which is part of why early momentum matters; see How Spotify Pays Artists for how listening translates into payouts.

The non-negotiable rule: pitch before you release

The single most important thing to know is that you must submit your track before it’s released. Editorial consideration happens on unreleased music through Spotify for Artists, ahead of release day. Once a track is live, that submission window has passed.

This is why lead time is everything:

  • Deliver to your distributor early, so the release is scheduled and shows up in Spotify for Artists in time to pitch.
  • Submit well ahead of release day, giving the editorial team room to consider it. Aim for as much lead time as you can manage rather than the bare minimum.
  • Coordinate with your other pre-release activity, like pre-save campaigns, which need the same advance scheduling.

Missing the window is the most common avoidable pitching mistake. Build your release timeline backwards from this deadline.

How to write a strong pitch

When you submit through Spotify for Artists, you’ll provide context about the track. You can’t control whether you’re picked, but you can make the curators’ job easier:

  • Describe the music accurately. Genre, mood, instrumentation and any relevant style tags help curators understand where your track fits.
  • Give useful context. The story behind the song, the moment or scene it suits, and anything notable about the release.
  • Be honest and specific. Curators consider a lot of submissions; clear, accurate framing beats hype. Don’t overstate or mislabel.
  • Make sure your profile is in order. A complete, professional artist profile and solid metadata support the pitch — see Music Metadata: Why It Decides Who Gets Paid for why metadata accuracy matters broadly.

Only pitch one track per release through the official tool, so choose the song you believe in most as your focus.

Set realistic expectations

A grounded view of editorial pitching saves a lot of disappointment:

  • A pitch is not a guarantee. Many strong submissions aren’t placed; that’s normal and not a verdict on your music.
  • Submitting still helps. Even when you don’t land an editorial placement, the act of pitching helps the platform’s systems learn about your release.
  • Editorial is one lever, not the whole strategy. Your own promotion, pre-saves, and consistent releasing matter regardless of whether you’re picked.
  • Beware “guaranteed placement” offers. Legitimate editorial consideration runs through Spotify for Artists and can’t be bought. Treat third parties promising guaranteed editorial spots with serious caution.

Build pitching into your routine

Make editorial pitching a standard step in every release, not an afterthought:

  1. Finish and deliver early to your distributor with comfortable lead time.
  2. Pitch the release through Spotify for Artists as soon as it’s available to submit.
  3. Run your pre-release push — pre-saves and social — in parallel.
  4. Promote hard around launch so the track performs, which can feed algorithmic playlists.
  5. Keep going afterward, since sustained performance matters as much as the launch, as covered in A Release Strategy for Independent Artists.

Treat every release as a pitch opportunity, do it early and honestly, and over time you give yourself far more chances than artists who skip the step.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a label or a connection to pitch Spotify editorial playlists? No. Any artist with access to Spotify for Artists can submit an upcoming release for editorial consideration directly — no label or insider contact required.

When do I have to submit my track for editorial consideration? Before it’s released. Editorial pitching is done on unreleased music through Spotify for Artists, ahead of release day, which is why delivering to your distributor with lead time is essential.

Is getting placed on an editorial playlist guaranteed if I pitch? No. Many strong submissions aren’t selected. Pitching still helps your release be considered and informs the platform’s systems, but placement is never guaranteed.

Can I pay someone to guarantee an editorial placement? Legitimate editorial consideration runs through Spotify for Artists and can’t be bought. Be very wary of anyone promising guaranteed editorial spots for a fee.

What’s the difference between editorial and algorithmic playlists? Editorial playlists are curated by the platform’s team and are what you pitch to. Algorithmic playlists are generated automatically based on listening behaviour and respond to how your music performs rather than to a direct submission.

Estimates are for informational purposes only and are not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. To keep your distribution costs in check across releases, try the Distributor Comparison Calculator.