How to get playlisted on streaming services: 7 playlist pitching tipsAd feature with BandLab Sounds
If you’re working on a new song and already thinking about playlist pitching, you’re a step ahead of most. The right placement can put your music directly in front of listeners who already love your sound. And that can easily take you from a quiet drop to thousands of streams overnight.
The catch is that curators get a lot of pitches, so standing out takes a bit of know-how. Check out these tips from BandLab Sounds to nail playlist pitching, whether you’re figuring out how to get on Spotify playlists, Apple Music, or anywhere else.
7 tips to nail your playlist pitch
1. Start pitching early
Playlist pitching should be the first thing you do once your release is scheduled, not just before it goes live. Editorial teams review submissions weeks before release day. If you’re pitching after you release your song, you might have already missed the window for consideration.
Timelines vary by platform, but as a general rule:

Spotify: At least 7 days before release, though 2 to 3 weeks gives you a better shot
Apple Music: At least 10 days before release
Amazon Music: 3 to 4 weeks before release
Independent curators: 2 to 4 weeks before release

2. Tell the story of your music
A generic description of your song isn’t going to stand out when curators have hundreds of pitches to read. Instead, give them the story behind it. What inspired the song? Why did you feel the need to write it?
For example, instead of: “This is an indie-pop track about heartbreak.” Try something like, “I wrote this after moving out of the home I shared with my ex. The song is how I felt about packing up memories and knowing there’s no going back.” It’s more personal, but that’s the point!
It’s also worth including a short promotional plan in your pitch. Curators want to know that you’re invested in the track’s success. If you’re planning to run ads to increase listens and traffic, or promote the release through Spotify for Artists, mention it. Just a sentence or two showing that you’re actively bringing listeners to the song can make your pitch stand out.
3. Be clear about your tracks style and genre
Telling a curator your track is ‘Alternative’ doesn’t give them much to work with. Describing it as “melancholic lo-fi bedroom pop with 90s indie guitar influences” paints a much clearer picture and helps them immediately picture where it could fit.
Be honest about it too. It’s tempting to squeeze your song into a trendier genre in hopes of landing a bigger playlist, but that usually backfires. You’re better off landing on a smaller playlist where listeners genuinely connect with your sound.
4. Put your track into context alongside other music
Curators can tell immediately whether you’ve listened to their playlist or are mass-submitting to a list. Name specific tracks on their playlist that feel similar to yours, and explain why your track belongs in that specific context.
Reference the mood or listening scenario the playlist serves. Something like “this would fit perfectly on a late-night drive playlist alongside your Phoebe Bridgers picks” lands a lot better than a generic submission.
5. Keep it skimmable
Long, dense paragraphs are easy to skip over, so keep your pitch concise and easy to scan at a glance. Aim for three short paragraphs, use plain language, and lead with the most compelling detail first – whether that’s the story behind the song, the placement suggestion, or the promotional push you have planned.
If they can get the full picture in under a minute, you’re already ahead of most submissions in their inbox.
6. Make your artist profile count
Curators will check your profile, so make sure it’s complete and up to date. A well-written bio, compelling photos, and your most recent releases all signal that you’re an active, serious artist. That matters when a curator is deciding whether to take a chance on a new name!
7. Explore playlist pitching services
If researching and reaching out to curators one by one feels overwhelming, try playlist pitching services. Some common ones are SubmitHub and Groover. They connect you straight with curators who are actively looking for new music to feature.
If you’re a BandLab member, don’t sleep on BandLab Opportunities. Apply and you could land playlist pitching campaigns with the likes of High Road Publicity and more.
Playlist pitching isn’t a guaranteed shortcut to virality, but it’s one of the most effective things you can do to give your new release a real shot at being heard! Put these 7 tips into practice on your next release and see what a difference it makes.
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