For artists and record labels, editorial playlists are a pivotal tool for increasing monthly listeners, streams, and royalties. This is due to being the most popular and sought after playlists on their respective platforms. In this blog, we will outline how distributors can assist artists in obtaining playlist placements. We’ll offer tips, insights into what DSPs (Digital Service Providers) seek and recommend helpful services to explore.
What are Editorial Playlists?
Editorial playlists on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are curated by their respective in-house curation teams. The teams consist of music experts and genre specialists around the world. The curation teams will listen to the music and decide whether a song is eligible to be provided editorial support (i.e. playlists, front page banners, genre page promotion). The decision is often based on factors such as song quality, genre suitability and much more.
The curation teams across the DSPs are always looking to update their editorial playlists. For some artists, if they’re already a global sensation, have a massive increase in regular listeners, or have a strong marketing plan that brings more people to their new release, their releases can be added to editorial playlists organically.
However, with 100,000’s of songs going live on streaming services every day, it can be hard to get above the noise as an independent artist.
How Independent Artists Can Submit to Editorial Playlists…
Empowering independent artists to take control of their music promotion is crucial in today’s digital age. By leveraging certain platforms like Spotify for Artists, artists can directly engage with editorial curators. Doing so can increase their chances of securing coveted playlist placements.
Not all platforms let you pitch to them directly, but some do. So, we’ve given you some links you can share with your artists below. As My Client Zone is direct with platforms, we can pitch directly to the platforms that don’t offer the direct pitch tools on your behalf. If you want to offer a label services solution and provide editorial pitching for qualifying artists, we’ve got you covered. Please get in touch for more details.
Spotify for Artists provides a comprehensive toolkit for musicians to manage their presence on the platform. One of the key features is the ability to submit upcoming tracks for playlist consideration. Artists can claim their profile and pitch upcoming releases here.
NOTE: artists can only pitch unreleased tracks through this tool.
Amazon Music for Artists offers similar opportunities for artists to pitch their music for editorial support. Artists can claim their profile and pitch upcoming releases here.
Audiomack Creators is another valuable platform for independent artists looking to grow their audience and secure playlist placements. Artists can claim their profile and pitch upcoming releases here.
By leveraging these platforms and actively engaging with their audience, independent artists can significantly increase their chances of securing coveted playlist placements.
Tip: Consider Lead time
One of the most critical factors in securing editorial playlist placements is timing. Distributors can play a pivotal role in ensuring that artists understand the importance of pitching their music well in advance of its release date. Here’s why pitching with adequate lead time is essential:
- Pitch Pre-Release. Most curation teams require submissions to be sent well before the official release date of the track. This allows curators at DSPs to review the submissions thoroughly and plan their playlists accordingly. For our white label clients that receive editorial pitching campaigns, we ask for a minimum of 6 weeks lead time.
- Increased Visibility for Emerging Artists. For emerging artists, securing editorial support upon release can be a game-changer in gaining visibility and traction. However, this support is more likely to materialise if pitches are made with sufficient lead time. Doing so gives curators the opportunity to discover and evaluate the music.
- Avoiding Last-Minute Oversights. Sending pitches mere days or even hours before the release date significantly diminishes the chances of the track being considered for editorial support. Curators receive numerous submissions daily, and without adequate lead time, the track may not get listened to before the release date. If the release date has passed before they’ve listened they will not be considered for placements.
Tip: Consider the Wider Promotion Strategy
While pitching to editorial playlists is crucial, it’s equally important for artists and labels to demonstrate a comprehensive promotion strategy. DSPs are more inclined to support releases that are backed by robust promotional efforts. Here’s why having a wider promotion strategy matters:
- Demonstrating Audience Engagement: DSPs are invested in promoting music that resonates with listeners. One way to demonstrate this is by showcasing active engagement and anticipation surrounding the release. Artists and labels can highlight their social media strategies, including planned content, targeted advertising campaigns, and engagement metrics.
- Showcasing Budget Allocation. Allocating a budget for promotion signals to DSPs that the artist or label is serious about supporting the release. Detailing the budget allocation for various promotional activities, such as social media advertising, radio campaigns, and PR efforts, provides DSPs with insight into the level of investment behind the release.
- Plans for Radio and PR. Traditional avenues such as radio play and PR coverage remain influential in reaching a broader audience. Artists and labels should outline their plans for securing radio airplay and engaging with press outlets to generate buzz and visibility around the release. It also helps to communicate actual coverage received throughout the campaign to keep piquing the editors interest.
- Future Touring Activities. DSPs are interested in supporting releases that are part of a larger narrative or strategic plan. Artists and labels can enhance their pitch by sharing upcoming tour dates or live performances, indicating a commitment to promoting the music beyond its initial release.
Submit Music for Our Team to Pitch to Editorial Playlists:
At My Client Zone, we offer a wide range of promotion services for our distributor clients to sell to their services.
Our Global Editorial Playlist Pitching campaign is a great tool to help your artists and labels increase your clients’ audiences in international markets and boost your streams across multiple DSPs.
As a direct delivery partner, we can pitch upcoming singles, EPs or albums to our editorial curator contacts across global digital platforms. This includes Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, Amazon, YouTube, Deezer, SoundCloud, and many more. Pitching campaigns start 6 weeks before release date, to ensure our contacts have the most amount of time to review your release.
Additionally, we offer region-specific pitching including Africa and India targeted playlisting, which is ideal for artists looking to focus on specific areas and genres.
If you have a My Client Zone account set up with us on a % split you can send information about upcoming high priority releases for us to pitch to editorial playlists FREE of charge.
For those not on a % split pricing model – Global campaigns start at £240.
Get in touch with your account manager today if you want our team to pitch your upcoming priority content to editorial curation teams, or explore our other promotion services.