Want Spotify’s editorial team to consider your next release? The official route is Spotify for Artists, where an artist or team member with the right access can submit an unreleased song for playlist consideration. The process is free, but it takes preparation—and a pitch is never a promise of playlist placement.
This guide walks through what to do before release day, what information to prepare, and how to avoid common mistakes. It focuses on Spotify’s official submission process, not paid placement offers or shortcuts.
What a Spotify playlist pitch does
A pitch gives Spotify’s editorial team information about an upcoming, unreleased song so they can consider whether it fits an editorial playlist. It is not a request to buy placement, and submitting a pitch does not guarantee that the song will be selected.
Spotify also says that when you pitch a song at least seven days before release, it will be included in your followers’ Release Radar. That is separate from an editorial playlist decision. Read Spotify’s current playlist pitching instructions before submitting.
1. Deliver the release early through your distributor
Your unreleased song needs to appear in the Upcoming section of Spotify for Artists before you can pitch it. Send the finished release to your distributor well ahead of its release date, then check that it has been delivered to the correct Spotify artist profile. Distributor processing times vary, so do not plan to submit at the last minute.
If the release does not appear in Upcoming, contact your distributor to check its delivery status and artist mapping. Spotify’s guide to unreleased music in Spotify for Artists explains what should appear there.
2. Choose an eligible song
Open Spotify for Artists and go to Music → Upcoming. Select the song you want to pitch and complete the form. Spotify currently allows one song pitch at a time; once that pitched song is live, you can pitch another. A song that has already been released cannot be submitted as an upcoming release.
For an album or EP, choose the one unreleased track that best represents the release and the audience you hope to reach. Do not assume that submitting the album automatically pitches every track.
3. Submit at least seven days before release
Set your own deadline earlier than Spotify’s minimum. Aim to submit two or more weeks before release if your distributor’s schedule allows it. This gives you time to fix a delivery or artist-profile issue before the final seven-day window.
Spotify says a pitch submitted at least seven days before release helps make the song eligible for followers’ Release Radar. That timing does not guarantee editorial playlist placement. If you wait until release day, the track is no longer eligible for an upcoming-song pitch.
4. Describe the song accurately
Choose the genres, moods and other descriptors that genuinely fit the recording. Add useful context about the song’s sound, subject, instruments, language, collaborators and cultural background where relevant. The goal is to help an editor understand the track—not to include every popular genre or trend.
Be specific and factual. For example, explain what makes the track distinct, who it is for, and what listeners will hear. Avoid unsupported claims such as “guaranteed hit” or “perfect for every playlist.”
5. Explain your release context and plans
Use the pitch to give concise context that is not obvious from the audio alone. You might explain the story behind the song, why you chose a particular collaboration, or how it connects to a larger project. Include a realistic plan for sharing the release with your existing audience, such as an announcement, a music video or a live performance.
Do not invent press coverage, audience numbers or marketing commitments. A clear, honest pitch is more useful than a long list of promises.
6. Check the submission before you send it
- Confirm the song is unreleased and is the track you intend to pitch.
- Check the artist name, release date and artist profile.
- Make sure the genre and mood descriptions match the recording.
- Use the available context fields to explain what makes the track relevant.
- Submit before your deadline, then check that the pitch appears in Spotify for Artists.
Spotify says an Admin or Editor on the artist team can view and edit a pitch. You can edit it up to release day, but changes made late may not be seen by editors.
7. Plan for release day either way
Continue with your release plan whether or not the song is selected for an editorial playlist. Share the official track link with your audience, make it easy to find from your artist profile, and publish the content you prepared. After release, review Spotify for Artists to see how listeners discovered and interacted with the song.
Playlist placement is only one possible discovery route. A thoughtful release plan should still make sense if the pitch does not result in editorial placement.
Avoid playlist placement guarantees
No outside service can guarantee that Spotify’s editors will add a song to an editorial playlist. Be cautious of anyone selling guaranteed editorial placement or asking for your Spotify password. Spotify’s pitch process is available through Spotify for Artists, and playlist decisions remain with Spotify.
Quick release checklist
- Deliver the track through your distributor early.
- Confirm it appears under the correct artist in Spotify for Artists → Music → Upcoming.
- Choose one unreleased song to pitch.
- Complete the pitch with accurate genre, mood and song context.
- Submit at least seven days before release—preferably earlier.
- Keep promoting the release to your audience without assuming a playlist placement.
Keep learning about Spotify promotion
A playlist pitch is one part of a release plan, not the whole plan. For ideas on sharing a release and reaching listeners across different channels, read our broader guide to promoting music on Spotify. Always check Spotify for Artists for the latest submission steps and eligibility rules before your next release.