What I Wish I Knew About Spotify Editorial Playlists

Editorial playlists are every musician's dream.

There are so many stories of artists who landed one big Spotify editorial playlist and suddenly had millions of streams.

And honestly, I found some of my favorite pop artists this way. Dua Lipa, Lola Young and Chappell Roan all came to me through editorial playlists, way before they blew up.

So today I want to cover this big (and slightly controversial) topic, and help you give your music the exposure it deserves.

What are editorial playlists?

Spotify editorial playlists are made by Spotify's own team of music editors. These are people who listen and pick, and no algorithm decides for them.

They are playlists like New Music Friday, Fresh Finds, RapCaviar and Lorem, and they exist to show new, trending or standout music in every genre.

Algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly are different for every listener. An editorial playlist is picked by hand and shared with millions of people, so getting on one can massively boost your exposure.

What are editors looking for?

I'll skip the technical steps of pitching here (I cover the process in my step-by-step playlist pitching guide) and go straight to the good part.

• Quality music. It sounds obvious, but the song needs to sound professional.
• A strong look. You need great artwork, a clean Spotify profile and an active Instagram.
• Momentum and potential. Post consistently, go viral, play shows. Make them believe you're worth investing in.
• A clear niche. Spotify asks for your location and sub-genres for a reason, so be specific and stand out.

Why an editorial playlist should be your goal

• Streams mean royalties. An editorial playlist can bring hundreds of thousands of quality streams.
• Massive exposure. It's one of the fastest ways to introduce your music to new fans.
• Momentum. The credibility boost can ripple through your whole career.

Why it shouldn't be your only goal

I've seen artists hit a million streams and still have fewer than 1,000 followers.

That can't last. If the next release doesn't land an editorial playlist, the streams can drop by 90% overnight, and you're left chasing the algorithm with no fanbase to show for it.

The bottom line

You're competing with millions of other artists. So:

• Focus on making great music.
• Use ads to trigger algorithmic playlists.
• Or even better, build your own playlist and control the story yourself.

Never depend on editors, marketers or labels to save you. Your success is in your hands.

If building your own playlist sounds like the right move, I teach the whole system in Label Level Playlists.

A content idea to try: the before and after

The best way to promote a song is to tell its story, whether you're making content or pitching playlists. People connect to emotion. They want to feel something, and they want to know you.

Telling the story doesn't always mean explaining your lyrics line by line. You can also show:

• Where the song was recorded
• The artists that inspired it
• The people in your life who supported you
• The process behind making it
• The flaws, bloopers and embarrassing moments along the way

That last one is honest, unexpected and very relatable. Here's an example: a 15-second video that shows the raw idea of the song first and then the final version. The contrast is what makes it work.

How to make one:

• Film yourself working on the song and speed it up into a 15 to 20 second time-lapse.
• Add a short caption that explains what people are watching, with the song name and the release date if it's not out yet.
• Make it clear on screen that the video starts with the raw idea and ends with the final version.

It works for two reasons. People get a peek into how the song was made, which makes the final version way more impressive. And Instagram rewards watch time, and this kind of video makes people stay until the moment it changes.