There are over 8 billion Spotify playlists and each one offers a gateway to new listeners. From personal mixes, to algorithm-driven feeds, to editorially curated showcases, playlists shape how today’s fans discover new music.
For independent musicians, understanding how to navigate this ecosystem can bridge the gap between streams and sustainable career growth.
In this post, you’ll learn best practices for using Spotify playlists to expand your reach and grow your audience. But first, we’ll look at how to avoid and proactively monitor fraudulent playlisting activity that can damage your data, derail your momentum, or even put your catalog at risk of being taken down.
Spotify Playlists: Only as Good as the Data
Playlists are one of the most powerful ways to grow your streaming presence, but from a career perspective, they’re only as valuable as the data they provide.
Your playlisting activity reveals:
- How your music is being discovered
- What artists you’re being grouped with
- How likely new listeners are to save and stream your songs.
This data provides the algorithm with a clearer picture of who your audience is and where your music fits, which in turn drives more opportunities for organic discovery.
Strong playlist data—like consistent save rates, accurate artist associations, and high listener engagement—signals that your music is ready to reach a wider audience. That’s also why it’s crucial to avoid fraudulent playlisting. Worse than distorting your data, artificial streaming can result in your catalog being taken down.
Avoid “Pay-for-Play” Services
Every artist wants more streams. But never, under any circumstance, should you pay for a service that promises streams or Spotify playlist placements in exchange for a fee. This violates digital streaming platform policies and can result in your music being taken down.
These “pay-for-play” services employ what’s called “artificial streaming.” According to Spotify, “an artificial stream is a stream that doesn’t reflect genuine user listening intent, including any instance of attempting to manipulate Spotify by using automated processes (bots or scripts).” Artificial streams distort your fan data, hurt your long-term growth on the platform, and again—put your music at risk of being removed.
If you receive promotional messages from pay-for-play services, do not engage with them. Some services take a softer approach, offering playlist consideration for a fee. Be highly skeptical of these services as well.
A good rule of thumb: if a service sounds too good to be true, it’s likely a scam. For more information on vetting services and avoiding artificial streams, visit the Spotify for Artists blog.
Monitor your streaming for fraudulent activity
In addition to avoiding scams, keep an eye on your streaming metrics for fraudulent activity. In some cases, artificial streaming can occur without your consent or knowledge. Bad actors can target songs with artificial streams, which if left unaddressed, can result in your music being taken down.
According to Spotify, abnormal activity may include:
- A sudden spike in streams for no apparent reason, followed by a drop off
- An unexplained spike in streams from a location where your tracks haven’t previously been active
- The majority of streams coming from unexplained or surprising sources of streams (such as “Other” or another streaming source that doesn’t make sense)
- A sudden and short-lived increase in follower growth
Monitor your streaming data (through your Spotify for Artists analytics dashboard) and flag any suspicious activity or unexplained spikes in streams through the Spotify playlist reporter. You may also notify your distributor.
More information on fraudulent services and artificial streaming (including an FAQ) is available on the Spotify for Artists page.
Best practices for getting your music on Spotify Playlists
Now that you’re familiar with the ground rules and how to keep your music safe, here are some best practices to help you find playlist success.
Tip #1: Optimize your profile for playlisting
Before you start pitching for Spotify playlist placements, make sure your profile is polished and up to date for a strong first impression. Think of it as your digital storefront: it should clearly reflect your brand, your story, and your music. A strong profile can boost your chances of being playlisted by Spotify and fans alike.
Within your Spotify for Artists dashboard:
- Add a high-quality profile photo and header image
- Write a bio that introduces who you are and what you’re about
- Link your social accounts so new listeners can connect with you elsewhere.
And don’t forget to update your Spotify Artist Pick (the song, album, or playlist featured at the top of your profile) and add Canvas visuals to your tracks (more on those later). These small touches make a big difference in showing both listeners and curators that you take your presence seriously.
Tip #2: Pitch your music to Spotify Editorials
Spotify allows artists to pitch their tracks for Spotify Editorial playlist consideration and more. Pitch your upcoming release through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days ahead of release time to be considered for placement.
Your submission provides the algorithm with additional metadata — including genre, mood, and instrumentation — which influences where your music might surface.
Here’s the information you need for the written portion of the pitch:
- A creative story: What led you to write the song? What experiences and emotions does it explore?
- A promo plan: How are you planning to promote your song?
- Momentum: What are you doing on and off Spotify to find your fans
To make the most of your pitch, be as detailed and accurate as possible. Highlight the story behind the song, the audience you think it will connect with (even drop editorial playlists that seem like a strong fit), and plug any promotional plans you have in place. Editors are more likely to take notice when they see a clear vision and momentum around your release.
It’s difficult to get on Spotify Editorials, but don’t be discouraged! Regardless of whether your song is accepted, pitching editors on your release will ensure your music is placed on your follower’s Release Radar playlist—featured right on their home page.
Tip #3: Increase your Spotify followers with pre-saves
Mobilize your fanbase—especially ahead of your release—to maximize your Spotify playlist opportunities. Spotify’s algorithm measures fan excitement about an upcoming release by your follower and pre-save counts.
Plan some multi-channel messaging that drives fans to click the follow button and pre-save your music. That can include:
- An email blast to your fanbase
- Daily story countdowns with a pre-save link
- A shout-out on stage at your next show
- Texting family and friends
- Organizing a giveaway for one lucky pre-saver
CD Baby members can create a pre-save page for their upcoming releases with Show.co:
- Log in to your CD Baby account and navigate to the “Featured tools” or “Free marketing tools” section to initiate your free Show.co account.
- Create a New Campaign: Within Show.co, select “New campaign”.
- Choose Campaign Type: Select “Spotify pre-save” as the campaign type
- Enter Release Information: Provide the Spotify URI (Universal Resource Identifier) of your unreleased track to set up the pre-save.
- Customize and Launch: Complete the campaign setup with details like cover art and an optional thank you message.
- Promote Your Link: You will receive a unique link to your pre-save page, which you can then share with your fans to build anticipation and encourage pre-saves.
And that’s just the beginning of Show.co. You can also create ads to promote your song once it’s out or convert your pre-save link into a giveaway landing page to drive more clicks. Learn more about Show.co here.
Tip #4: Add Canvases to your tracks
Spotify Canvases are 3- to 8-second looping videos that play behind your song’s cover art in the Spotify mobile app. Aside from accentuating the listening experience, canvases also help your chances of getting your music playlisted.
According to Spotify, tracks with canvases are:
- 20% more likely to get playlisted
- 145% more likely to be shared between fans.
CD Baby members can use CDB Video Creator to create and upload canvas videos to Spotify in minutes.
Tip #5: Create your own playlist
Lastly, don’t just wait for Spotify’s editorial team, the algorithm, or even your fans to notice your music. You can start by creating your own Spotify playlists!
It’s a direct way to showcase your songs alongside tracks from artists you admire, influences that shaped your sound, or peers in your scene—especially if you make the playlist your Artist Pick.
By curating a thoughtful playlist, you’re not only highlighting your music but also offering real value to your fans with a mix they’ll want to save.
Share your playlists on your social channels, link them on your website, and encourage fans to follow them. Over time, this positions you as more than just an artist—you become a tastemaker for your fans. That added context helps listeners connect with your identity and builds a stronger case for Spotify’s algorithm to surface your music.
Pro tip: You can mirror the algorithm and build new relationships with artists by playlisting songs by artists featured in the “fans also like” section of your Spotify profile. Of course, only choose artists you’d like to be associated with. When you post your playlist to social media, tag any included artists!
Conclusion
Remember Spotify playlist success doesn’t happen in isolation. For many musicians looking to get started with playlisting, it’s helpful to take stock of your off-platform activity, too.
If you’re having a hard time getting your music playlisted, consider: how often are you playing live? Are you cultivating a following on social media? How are you sharing your music and telling your artist story? Are you networking within the industry and receiving press coverage?
Spotify’s algorithm indirectly factors in all of the above in assessing your playlist suitability.
In short: playlist success comes from real fan engagement and that’s what unlocks lasting opportunities on streaming platforms. Beyond music distribution, CD Baby provides expert insights and best practices to help you build your fanbase and grow your career.