What is playlist pitching?
Playlist pitching means actively presenting your track to playlist editors before release — with a story, genre framing and release plan. Editorial playlists like New Music Friday reach millions of listeners, and a slot there is not bought but pitched. Understanding the process gives your release a real shot at reach without an ad budget.
How the Spotify editorial pitch works
Spotify accepts pitches via Spotify for Artists — at least 7 days before release, better earlier. The pitch reaches the editorial teams and simultaneously guarantees delivery to your Release Radar followers. What counts: precise genre and mood tags, a real story (why this track, why now) and momentum — pre-save numbers, social traction, tour dates. Apple Music, Deezer and Amazon have their own editorial channels that run through distributor contacts.
Editorial vs. algorithmic vs. user playlists
Editorial playlists are curated by editors — pitching helps here. Algorithmic playlists (Release Radar, Discover Weekly, Radio) fill themselves from your data: saves, skip rate, repeat listeners. Independent user playlists are the third channel — direct outreach counts there. The three channels feed each other: an editorial placement boosts your algorithmic signals and vice versa.
What a professional pitch service does
A curated pitch deck bundles track, story, data and contacts in the format editors expect — and goes directly to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal and Amazon. At OGRECORDS™ this is an add-on priced per pitch, transparent instead of a subscription: details on /playlist-pitching. Important framing: nobody legitimate “guarantees” editorial placements — what is sold is the professional pitch, the decision is the editors’.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get into Spotify playlists?
Three routes: the editorial pitch via Spotify for Artists (at least 7 days before release), algorithmic playlists via strong engagement signals (saves, low skip rate, pre-saves), and independent curators via direct outreach. A professional pitch deck covers all three channels.
What does playlist pitching cost?
The Spotify editorial pitch via Spotify for Artists is free. Professional pitch services with a curated deck and editorial contacts are priced per pitch — at OGRECORDS™ transparently per track instead of a subscription, see /playlist-pitching. Avoid providers that “guarantee” placements for money — that violates Spotify’s rules.
How does Apple Music editorial playlist submission work?
Apple Music has no public pitch form like Spotify — editorial suggestions run through label and distributor channels. A distributor with a direct line submits your track with story and data to the Apple editors; exactly that is part of the OGRECORDS™ pitching add-on.
When should I pitch my track?
As early as possible after submission, at the latest 7 days before release (Spotify’s minimum). Editors plan weeks ahead — a 3–4 week release lead gives your pitch the best starting position.
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