As a singer who’s just released a new album, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get your music heard in today’s saturated digital landscape. After pouring my heart and soul into crafting each track, I found myself asking the same question many independent artists face: “How do I get my music in front of the right audience?”
That’s when I discovered the power of playlist curation. These musical tastemakers have the ability to introduce your songs to thousands, sometimes even millions, of potential fans. But with so many playlist curators out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
Through my journey of promoting my latest album, I’ve researched and experimented with various playlist submission services. I’ve had my fair share of successes and setbacks, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
To help fellow musicians navigate this landscape, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best playlist curators to submit your music to. These platforms have proven track records, offer fair opportunities for independent artists, and could be the key to unlocking your music’s potential.
1. Boost Collective
Boost Collective is a dynamic platform that connects independent artists with playlist curators and music industry professionals. They offer a streamlined submission process that allows musicians to get their tracks in front of influential tastemakers. With a focus on emerging talent, Boost Collective provides a valuable opportunity for up-and-coming artists to gain exposure and grow their fanbase. Their curators span various genres, ensuring that artists from different musical backgrounds can find suitable playlists for their music.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator stands out as one of the most prominent and professional playlist curation services in the digital music landscape. Founded by Serena Whitfield, a musician with a distinguished background in music from the University of Oxford, this platform takes a meticulous approach to playlist creation. Their team, including professional guitarist Jasper Clarke, brings a wealth of musical expertise to the curation process, ensuring that each playlist is crafted with care and insight.
What sets Playlist Curator apart is their commitment to manual curation. Unlike many services that rely on algorithms, they use “the most traditional but accurate method: our ears” to evaluate each song. This human touch ensures that every track not only fits the playlist’s theme but also resonates with the intended audience’s emotions and expectations. Their playlists span a wide range of themes, from love and life to resilience and adventure, catering to diverse musical preferences.
Playlist Curator has established a significant presence across major streaming platforms, including Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud. With over 100,000 followers across their playlists and more than 500 actively curated collections, they’ve become a go-to source for music discovery. Their website attracts over 20,000 monthly visitors, highlighting their growing influence in the music curation space.
For artists looking to submit their music, Playlist Curator offers a straightforward submission process through their website. They receive around 100 submissions weekly and carefully consider each one against their strict quality criteria. While they don’t guarantee inclusion, their professional evaluation process gives artists a fair chance at being featured alongside both mainstream hits and indie gems.
3. iMusician
iMusician is more than just a playlist curator – it’s a comprehensive digital music distribution service that helps artists get their music on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. In addition to distribution, iMusician offers playlist pitching services, giving artists the chance to have their music considered for inclusion in popular playlists. Their platform also provides music monetization and YouTube content ID services, making it a versatile option for artists looking to expand their reach and revenue streams.
4. MySphera
MySphera positions itself as the ultimate matchmaker between musicians and influencers, helping both sides grow their audience. With a roster of over 3,000 playlist curators, bloggers, influencers, and digital creators, MySphera offers artists a wide range of opportunities to get their music heard. They provide affordable promotion plans tailored to artists’ needs, with options for Spotify playlist features, Twitter promotions, and Instagram Stories features. MySphera’s approach focuses on connecting artists with tastemakers who can provide authentic engagement and help unlock new audiences for their music.
5. Indiemono
Indiemono is a prominent independent playlist curator with a significant presence on Spotify. With over 3 million playlist followers and more than 100 actively curated playlists, Indiemono has established itself as a top 10 independent profile worldwide. They pride themselves on their concept-driven playlisting approach, focusing on user experience and organic growth rather than automated algorithms. Indiemono receives hundreds of daily submissions, which they use to update their playlists on a regular basis. Their commitment to ethical curation is evident in their policy of not selling placements or accepting payments for playlist inclusion, ensuring a fair opportunity for all artists.
6. SpinGrey
SpinGrey offers a unique approach to playlist curation through a Patreon-based system. This platform allows artists to submit their music with priority consideration for SpinGrey’s curated playlists and social media channels. By maintaining an active presence on platforms like Instagram, SpinGrey provides additional promotional opportunities for featured artists. Their collection of Spotify playlists covers a wide range of genres and moods, making it easier for artists to find playlists that align with their musical style. The Patreon model fosters a more direct and personal connection between artists and curators, potentially leading to stronger relationships and more targeted promotion.
7. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a comprehensive music promotion service that connects independent artists with playlist curators and TikTok creators. They boast a network of over 8,900 creators and have helped more than 25,000 artists reach billions of listeners through successful campaigns. Playlist Push employs a rigorous vetting process for curators to ensure authentic engagement and organic streams. Their AI-powered algorithm matches submitted songs with relevant playlists and creators, increasing the chances of successful placements. Artists can choose from various campaign budgets, making it accessible for musicians at different stages of their careers. Playlist Push also provides detailed analytics and reporting, allowing artists to track the performance of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions for future promotions.
8. For the Love of Bands
For the Love of Bands is a passionate, artist-focused playlist curator that has gained a strong reputation in the indie music scene. This platform was created by music enthusiasts who understand the challenges faced by emerging artists. They curate a diverse range of playlists across various genres, with a particular emphasis on indie rock, alternative, and folk music. For the Love of Bands prides itself on its personal approach, often providing feedback to artists and fostering a supportive community. Their submission process is straightforward, allowing artists to submit their tracks directly through their website. With a growing following on Spotify, For the Love of Bands offers a valuable opportunity for indie artists to gain exposure and connect with like-minded listeners.
9. SongRocket
SongRocket is an innovative music promotion platform that combines playlist pitching with social media marketing. They offer a unique “rocket boost” system that helps propel artists’ music to new heights of visibility. SongRocket’s network includes not only playlist curators but also music bloggers, radio stations, and social media influencers. This multi-faceted approach allows artists to create comprehensive promotional campaigns that extend beyond just Spotify playlists. SongRocket uses advanced algorithms to match submitted tracks with the most suitable curators and influencers, increasing the chances of successful placements. They also provide detailed analytics and reporting, giving artists valuable insights into their campaign performance and audience engagement.
10. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign positions itself as a bridge between independent artists and music industry professionals. This platform offers a range of services, including playlist pitching, press release distribution, and social media promotion. What sets SoundCampaign apart is its focus on building long-term relationships between artists and curators. They have a carefully vetted network of playlist curators across various genres, ensuring that submitted music reaches the right audience. SoundCampaign also offers educational resources and personalized coaching to help artists improve their promotional strategies. Their tiered pricing model allows artists to choose campaigns that fit their budget and goals, making it accessible for musicians at different stages of their careers. With a commitment to transparency and artist empowerment, SoundCampaign has become a trusted partner for many independent musicians looking to expand their reach.