If you have a planned release date for your song, pitch the song at least 7 days before it’s released on Spotify. If your song is accepted, this will also place it on user’s Release Radar algorithmic playlist.
Providing the right tags is especially important here, since that’s how Spotify’s editors will know which playlist to place your music on. Get as specific as you can, including subgenres and what instruments are prevalent in the song. To give your song a more particular identity, you can include technical tags that address the language of the lyrics, cultural influences, and your hometown or the city you’re associated with.
Alternatively, a Spotify editor may select a different song from your library, and they’ll notify you via email if they do so. If your song isn’t selected, focus on building your following in order to get noticed by Spotify’s editors.
When you ask for the feature, describe your song and its genre, as well as yourself as an artist. Also, use polite, humble language—you’re asking a stranger for a favor, after all.
Taking advantage of this function also helps you build relationships with other artists, which builds associations and helps you grow your following in the long run.
In addition, regularly releasing music in the form of singles and EPs is a great way to let fans know you’re active, as well as up your chances of landing on the Release Radar.
By now you’ve probably caught on to the fact that building a following is a positive feedback loop: the more followers you have, the more streams you’ll get, the more likely you are to be featured on playlists, which will give you more followers in return. But you need to start someplace, and that place is social media.
Also encourage your followers to add your music to their own playlists, which is a great way to spread your work through smaller (but no less valuable) channels.
Remember to list any live gig you’ll play on your Spotify profile, so that fans know where they can find you.
