Spotify editors pick songs for their playlists partly from pitches that artists send through Spotify for Artists. There is no fee and no secret contact. There is a form, a deadline and a lot of competition, and knowing how those work saves you from wasted effort and false hopes.
What the pitch tool is
Once your distributor has delivered a release, it appears in Spotify for Artists among your upcoming releases. From there you can choose one unreleased song and send it to Spotify's editorial team along with information about it. Editors listen to pitches and decide whether a song fits any of the playlists they look after.
A few basic rules have stayed the same for years:
- You can pitch only music that is not out yet. Songs that are already released cannot be pitched.
- You pitch one song at a time, so on an EP or album you choose the strongest track.
- You need access to your artist profile in Spotify for Artists. A manager or label teammate with the right access can pitch too.
- Pitching is free. Nobody can sell you a guaranteed spot on an editorial playlist.
Timing: work backwards from release day
The pitch has to arrive before the release date, and Spotify asks for at least seven days. Songs pitched in time also go into the Release Radar of your followers, which is a real benefit even if no editor picks the song. Earlier is better: editors plan ahead, and a pitch sent two or three weeks before release gives them more room.
That means the release itself must be delivered well before release day. Distribution has its own steps: review, possible corrections and each platform's processing time. At CULT, for example, the team reviews every release and shows any requested changes in the portal, and the timing depends on how quickly those are sorted out. If you want three weeks for the pitch, submit the release a good while before that.
A simple plan for a single called "Night Drive" that comes out on the 24th:
- About five weeks before: finish the master and the cover, submit the release.
- As soon as it shows up in Spotify for Artists as upcoming: send the pitch.
- The week before release: prepare posts, Canvas and your profile.
Filling in the form
The form asks for details that help editors sort pitches: genre and sub-genres, moods, styles, instruments, the language of the lyrics, the song's cultural roots, and whether it is a cover or a remix. Answer honestly and precisely. If the song is dark electronic pop sung in Portuguese, say exactly that. Ticking "pop" for everything does not widen your chances; it just puts you in the wrong pile.
Where the form allows it, add your hometown and country. Spotify has editors who look after regional and local playlists, and local ties are often the most realistic way in for a new artist.
Writing the description
The description field is short, so every sentence should carry information. Good pitches usually answer three questions: what is this song, why does it exist, and what are you doing to support it.
"Night Drive" is a slow synth-pop song about driving home through an empty city after a breakup. Recorded in Lisbon with live bass. It is the second single from an EP due in spring. The music video premieres on release day, a local radio station is interested, and there is a club show on the 30th.
Skip empty adjectives like "unique" or "a hit", and skip the long biography. If you want to reach editors outside your country, write the description in English and make the local angle clear.
Prepare the text in a notes app first. Once a pitch is sent, you can't edit it, so check the genre choices and the spelling of every name before you press submit.
What to expect afterwards
Most pitched songs do not land on an editorial playlist. That is normal and says little about the song: each editor receives far more pitches than there are places. Spotify does not send rejection notes. If a song is added, you will see it in Spotify for Artists, usually around release day.
Even without an editorial add, the pitch did its job. The song reached your followers through Release Radar, and good listening in the first days can open the way to algorithmic playlists such as Discover Weekly and to Spotify radio. For many independent artists, those bring steadier listening than a one-off editorial placement.
Short answers to common questions
Can I pitch the same song again later?
No. Once the song is out, it can't be pitched. Pitch the next release instead.
Does my distributor pitch for me?
The tool belongs to you as the artist. Some companies sell separate promotion services, but the standard pitch is something you send yourself from Spotify for Artists.
Should I pay someone who promises editorial playlists?
No. Editorial placements cannot be bought, and services that promise them often rely on fake streams, which can get your music taken down.