How to Pitch Your Song to Spotify Editorial Playlists

Spotify's editorial playlists are curated by Spotify's own editors, and the only official way to put your music in front of them is the pitching tool in Spotify for Artists. It is free, it is open to every artist with a claimed profile, and it takes about ten minutes. It also has a second benefit many artists overlook: pitching on time helps your song reach your followers through Release Radar.

This guide walks through how pitching works, how to prepare, and how to write a pitch that gives editors useful information. It will not promise a placement, because nobody can. Editors receive a very large number of pitches, and most songs are not selected. What you can do is make sure your pitch is complete, accurate and early.

How editorial pitching works

The basics are well established:

You pitch from Spotify for Artists (desktop or mobile app) once your distributor has delivered an upcoming release.
You can pitch one unreleased song at a time. Released songs cannot be pitched.
You need to pitch at least 7 days before release for the song to be considered for your followers' Release Radar.
Pitching is free. Spotify prohibits paying for placement on playlists, so anyone selling a "guaranteed editorial placement" is not working with Spotify.

Editors use the information you submit, alongside how the song performs after release, to decide what to consider. Filling in the form thoroughly matters because it is often the first context an editor sees.

Timing: deliver early, pitch early

Seven days is the minimum, not the target. A longer runway gives editors more time to listen and gives you more time to fix problems.

Four to six weeks before release: finalize masters, artwork and metadata, and upload the release to your distributor.
Three to four weeks before: check that the release appears under Upcoming in Spotify for Artists, then submit your pitch.
One to two weeks before: confirm the pitch shows as submitted, and prepare your Canvas, Countdown Page and social content.
Release week: focus on sending real fans to the song and asking them to save it.

Distributors differ in how quickly releases appear in Spotify for Artists, so build in a buffer. If you work backward from a date, our 6-week release checklist lays out the full timeline.

Choosing which song to pitch

If your release has several tracks, you can pitch only one. Choose carefully:

Pick the song that best represents a clear genre or mood. Editors curate playlists by style, activity and mood, so a focused track is easier to place than a genre-blending experiment.
Favor a strong opening. Listeners on large playlists skip quickly. A song that gets to its point early tends to hold attention.
Think about your whole campaign. The song you pitch is also the one that goes to Release Radar, so pick the track you plan to promote hardest.

How to fill in the pitch form

The form asks for structured details plus a short free-text description. Treat each field as a chance to help an editor file your song in the right place.

Genres and styles

Be precise. Selecting three unrelated genres to "cast a wider net" makes your song harder to categorize. Choose the genres and sub-styles that a fan of the song would actually use to describe it.

Moods, culture and instruments

Choose moods honestly. If the track is a laid-back late-night song, say so, even if you think "energetic" playlists are bigger. Mismatched moods lead to skips if the song is ever tested with the wrong audience.

Song type and language

Mark whether it is a cover, remix or instrumental, and select the correct language. Details like these help editors in specific markets.

The description

You get a limited number of characters, so make each sentence carry information. A useful description usually covers:

What the song is about and the story behind it, in one or two sentences.
Notable collaborators, producers or featured artists.
Your marketing plan: videos, press, tour dates, radio, a partnership or a campaign in a particular city or country.
Real traction you already have, such as a growing local audience or a previous release that performed well.

Example: "A warm, mid-tempo indie pop song about moving back to your hometown, co-produced with our longtime collaborator. We are releasing a live session video on release day, playing three shows in Chicago the same month, and running a short-video campaign built around the chorus."

Avoid generic hype ("the next big hit"), claims you cannot support and long lists of influences. Specific facts are more useful than adjectives.

After you submit

You will not usually receive a personal reply. If your song is added to an editorial playlist, you will see it in Spotify for Artists after release. Meanwhile, keep working on what you control:

Send your existing fans to the song in the first days, and ask for saves and playlist adds rather than just plays.
Reach out to independent curators who run legitimate playlists in your genre, without paying for placement.
Keep an eye on sources of streams to see which channels bring engaged listeners.

Editorial support is only one path. Many artists build steady numbers through algorithmic surfaces, which respond to how real listeners engage. See how the Spotify algorithm works for more.

A quick pitch checklist

Release delivered to your distributor and visible under Upcoming.
Profile claimed and up to date (bio, photos, artist pick).
Strongest, most focused track selected for the pitch.
Genres, moods, instruments and language filled in accurately.
Description covers story, collaborators and a concrete marketing plan.
Pitch submitted at least 7 days before release, ideally three to four weeks.
Release-week promotion planned for real fans.

Setting realistic expectations

Most pitches do not lead to an editorial placement, and that is normal. A pitch is still worth submitting every time because it helps you reach followers through Release Radar and adds context to your song. Artists who get editorial support often have a steady release history, clear positioning and fans who actively engage.

Some artists also use promotion services to support visibility during release week. If you do, keep it proportionate to your organic activity, grow gradually and use drip-feed, and remember that it does not guarantee editorial or algorithmic placement. Platforms can also review tracks or remove plays that look unnatural. On SpotBoost, you can compare options such as saves and source plays on the Services page and plan them around your real campaign.

Key takeaways

Pitching in Spotify for Artists is free and the only official route to editorial playlists.
You can pitch one unreleased song at a time; pitch at least 7 days before release to be considered for Release Radar.
Aim for three to four weeks ahead to give editors time.
Accurate genres and moods matter more than broad ones.
A specific marketing plan in the description is more useful than hype.
No one can guarantee editorial placement, so plan your campaign to succeed without it.

Next, read about Release Radar and reaching your followers, which is where a well-timed pitch pays off for almost every artist.