As an actor who’s recently ventured into the world of music, I’ve quickly realized that creating great songs is only half the battle. The real challenge? Getting those tunes in front of an audience. That’s where playlist curators come in, and let me tell you, they’re absolute game-changers for independent artists like us.
I’ve spent countless hours in the recording studio, pouring my heart into every lyric and melody. But when it came time to share my music with the world, I felt lost in the vast ocean of streaming platforms. That’s when I discovered the power of playlist curation. These musical tastemakers have the ability to introduce your sound to listeners who are actively seeking new tracks to fall in love with.
Through my journey of promoting my own music, I’ve learned that getting featured on the right playlists can make all the difference. It’s not just about boosting those streaming numbers (though that’s definitely a nice perk). It’s about connecting with listeners who genuinely appreciate your artistic vision. But with so many curators out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of the 10 best playlist curators to submit your music to. Whether you’re a fellow actor-turned-musician or a lifelong indie artist, these platforms can help you navigate the complex world of music promotion and get your songs the attention they deserve.
1. iMusician
iMusician is a digital music distribution service that has expanded its offerings to include playlist pitching opportunities for artists. This platform provides a unique advantage for musicians who distribute their music through iMusician, as they gain access to a dedicated playlist submission tool. Artists can browse through a curated selection of playlists across various genres and submit their tracks directly to playlist owners. This direct connection to curators streamlines the submission process and increases the chances of getting noticed. While iMusician doesn’t guarantee placements, it offers a valuable bridge between artists and playlist curators. The service is free for artists who use iMusician for distribution, making it an attractive option for independent musicians looking to expand their reach on Spotify.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is a prominent online platform dedicated to curating and distributing high-quality music playlists across various streaming services and their own website. As one of the leading playlist curators on the internet, they offer a diverse range of carefully crafted playlists designed to suit different moods, occasions, and musical preferences. Their team of experienced curators employs a meticulous approach to playlist creation, ensuring a balance of popular tracks, emerging artists, and timeless classics across multiple genres.
The platform prides itself on its thoughtful curation process, which involves several key elements. They maintain thematic coherence in each playlist, ensuring that every track contributes to the overall atmosphere and narrative. Quality control is a priority, with each song undergoing a rigorous evaluation process before inclusion. Playlist Curator also values user feedback, regularly analyzing engagement data and incorporating listener preferences to refine their offerings.
One of the unique features of Playlist Curator is their openness to submissions from independent artists. They provide a straightforward submission process for musicians looking to have their tracks featured on popular playlists. The platform carefully considers each submission, applying strict criteria to assess the quality and suitability of the music for their curated collections. This approach not only helps maintain the high standards of their playlists but also offers emerging artists an opportunity to gain exposure.
Playlist Curator distributes its content across major streaming platforms, including YouTube Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud, making their playlists easily accessible to a wide audience. They offer an extensive array of themed playlists, ranging from emotion-based collections like “Songs About Hope” and “Songs About Surrender” to more specific themes such as “Songs About the Sun and Sunshine” and even quirky options like “Songs About Bees”.
3. SongRocket
SongRocket is a music promotion platform that specializes in Spotify playlist pitching. The service operates on a campaign-based system where artists select a track and set a budget for promotion. SongRocket’s sophisticated algorithm then matches the submitted track to relevant playlist curators within their network, taking into account factors such as genre and style. Curators in the SongRocket network listen to submissions and provide feedback, deciding whether to add the track to their playlists. One of the platform’s strengths is its detailed campaign analytics, which allow artists to track their progress and communicate with curators through the platform. SongRocket uses a credit-based system, where artists purchase credits to fund their campaigns. This approach offers a targeted and data-driven method for artists seeking to increase their presence on Spotify playlists.
4. Indiemono
Indiemono is a well-established playlist curator that focuses on supporting independent and emerging artists across various genres. They offer a free submission tool that allows indie artists to get their music in front of playlist curators, potentially boosting their streaming figures in a legitimate way. Indiemono positions itself as an alternative to the mainstream music industry, emphasizing the discovery of new talent, particularly indie bands and artists. Their submission process is straightforward, allowing musicians to send their music directly to the platform for consideration. Indiemono’s team of curators then reviews the submissions and places suitable tracks on their diverse range of playlists, which include popular collections like “Clean Pop Hits” and “New Indie & Alternative.” In addition to playlist curation, Indiemono maintains a blog where they highlight new releases and provide additional exposure for featured artists, creating a comprehensive platform for music promotion.
5. SpinGrey
SpinGrey is a playlist curation service that offers artists unique opportunities to get their music featured on curated Spotify playlists. What sets SpinGrey apart is its Patreon-based system, which allows artists to submit their music with priority to SpinGrey’s playlists and social channels. This approach provides a more direct line of communication between artists and curators, potentially increasing the chances of playlist inclusion. SpinGrey maintains a collection of curated playlists on Spotify, covering various genres and moods, giving artists the opportunity to find playlists that best fit their musical style. Additionally, SpinGrey leverages Instagram to share updates about their playlists and new releases, creating an additional channel for artist promotion and engagement with their audience.
6. Daily Playlists
Daily Playlists is a comprehensive music promotion and marketing platform designed for independent artists and music curators. The platform offers artists multiple ways to promote their music, including submitting tracks to independent curators on services like Spotify, setting up contests for fans, and using the community to get feedback on their songs. Daily Playlists operates on a tiered system with both free and premium options. Artists receive a weekly allotment of free Standard Submissions to pitch their tracks to specific playlists, while Premium Credits can be purchased to submit to vetted Premium curators who guarantee a response or placement. For curators, Daily Playlists provides tools to interact with other curators, grow their playlists through specific gates, and build email lists. The platform aims to save time for both artists and curators, allowing them to focus on creating or curating music.
7. MySphera
MySphera is a platform that connects independent playlist curators with artists, facilitating music discovery and promotion. The service allows independent playlist curators to showcase their playlists on the platform, while artists can submit their music for consideration to these curators. This system creates a diverse ecosystem of playlists, catering to various genres and niches. MySphera likely uses an algorithm or matching system to connect artists with relevant curators based on genre, style, or other factors, streamlining the submission process and increasing the chances of artists finding suitable playlists for their music. The platform offers both free and paid options for artists. Free submissions can be made through curator contact forms, while paid campaigns allow MySphera to pitch songs to “best-fit” curators. MySphera’s curator network spans a wide range of genres, with particular strength in Hip-hop, EDM, Lofi, and Electronic music.
8. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a well-established music promotion service that connects artists with playlist curators and TikTok creators for organic music promotion. The platform uses an AI-powered algorithm to match songs with relevant playlists and creators, increasing the chances of successful placements. Playlist Push offers both Spotify playlist promotion and TikTok creator promotion, catering to artists looking to expand their reach on these popular platforms. The service provides advanced analytics and placement data, allowing artists to track the performance of their campaigns. While Playlist Push has a large network of curators and has been used by over 25,000 artists, it’s important to note that results can vary depending on the quality of the song and the current curator landscape. The platform operates on a campaign-based system, with prices starting at $300 for Spotify campaigns and $500 for TikTok campaigns, which may be considered expensive for some independent artists.
9. Tunemunk
Tunemunk is a music promotion service that offers both free and paid options for independent artists to submit their music to Spotify playlists. The platform provides a curated list of playlists categorized by genre, mood, and event types, making it easier for artists to find relevant playlists for their music. Tunemunk’s user-friendly interface allows artists to quickly submit their tracks to multiple playlists with just a few clicks. While specific details about Tunemunk’s operations are limited in the provided search results, it’s known for offering a more accessible entry point for artists looking to promote their music on Spotify, especially with its free submission options.
10. Soundplate
Soundplate is a comprehensive music promotion platform primarily focused on electronic dance music (EDM) and its subgenres. It offers a range of services beyond just playlist submission, including music distribution, promotional tools, event listings, educational content, and networking opportunities. Soundplate allows artists to submit their music to independent Spotify playlists for free, with a search function to find playlists by genre. The platform also operates as an independent label, providing additional opportunities for artists. While the playlist submission service is free, Soundplate generates revenue through a subscription service for various promotional tools. This subscription offers a good value for artists looking for an all-in-one platform to promote their electronic music. However, it’s worth noting that some users have reported instances of curators requesting payment for playlist inclusion, which is generally considered a red flag in the industry.