As an independent musician, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get your music heard in today’s saturated digital landscape. That’s why I’ve spent countless hours researching and experimenting with various playlist submission strategies. Trust me, I’ve been through the rollercoaster of emotions – from the thrill of a successful placement to the disappointment of radio silence.
But here’s the good news: playlist curators can be your secret weapon in boosting your music’s visibility. They’re the unsung heroes of the streaming world, capable of catapulting your tracks from obscurity to thousands of eager listeners.
In this article, I’m excited to share my top 11 picks for the best playlist curators to submit your music to. Whether you’re a bedroom producer or an established indie artist, these platforms offer a range of opportunities to get your sound in front of the right audience.
1. Indiemono
Indiemono is a prominent independent music curator known for its extensive range of Spotify playlists that cater to various genres and moods. With a mission to support indie artists, Indiemono offers a free submission system to help musicians get their tracks featured on curated playlists.
To submit music to Indiemono, artists start by selecting a genre box that best matches their track. This system allows Indiemono to streamline the review process by focusing on specific vibes and genres. Once submitted, the song is reviewed and, if selected, added to relevant playlists. Indiemono does not provide feedback on submissions due to the high volume of music they receive. Artists can check if their song has been playlisted via Spotify for Artists. Additionally, Indiemono offers a Patreon-supported submission system for faster review and feedback.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is one of the most prominent online playlist curators, offering a diverse range of carefully curated playlists across various themes and moods. Their playlists are available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud, making them easily accessible to a wide audience. With themes ranging from love and life to resilience and adventure, Playlist Curator aims to provide the perfect soundtrack for any occasion.
Artists interested in submitting their music to Playlist Curator can do so through a straightforward submission process on their website. To begin, artists fill out a form with details about their track. The curator team then carefully listens to each submission, applying strict criteria to assess whether the song aligns with their playlist themes and meets their quality standards.
One of the strengths of Playlist Curator is its presence across multiple streaming platforms. This multi-platform approach ensures that their curated playlists reach a broad audience, regardless of listeners’ preferred streaming service. Additionally, their website provides a centralized hub for discovering new playlists and submitting music, making it a valuable resource for both artists and music lovers alike.
3. MySphera
MySphera is a music promotion platform that connects artists with tastemakers, including playlist curators, bloggers, and influencers. The platform aims to match music with the most relevant audience through a combination of algorithmic analysis and human curation.
Artists submit their music to MySphera, where it is analyzed and matched with appropriate tastemakers based on genre, mood, and other factors. MySphera offers several campaign tiers, each with different features and price points. The platform guarantees a minimum potential reach and offers a money-back policy if no features are secured. Tastemakers review the submissions and decide whether to feature the tracks on their playlists or other media channels. MySphera emphasizes organic reach and quality connections over sheer volume.
4. SongRocket
SongRocket is a music promotion service designed to simplify the process of pitching music to independent playlist curators. The platform focuses on connecting artists with curators who have active and engaged followers.
Artists create a campaign on SongRocket by selecting a track and setting a budget. The platform then matches the track with relevant curators based on genre and other criteria. Curators review the submissions and provide feedback, deciding whether to add the track to their playlists. SongRocket uses a credit-based system, where artists purchase credits to fund their campaigns. The platform provides detailed analytics and allows for direct communication between artists and curators.
5. SpinGrey
SpinGrey is a playlist curation service that focuses on promoting independent and emerging artists. The platform offers a range of playlists across different genres and styles, aiming to provide exposure to new talent.
Artists submit their music to SpinGrey through an online submission form. The curators at SpinGrey review the submissions and select tracks that fit the vibe and quality of their playlists. SpinGrey does not charge for submissions, making it an accessible option for indie artists. The platform emphasizes the importance of high-quality production and originality in the music they feature. Artists can follow up on their submissions through the platform’s communication channels.
6. Soundplate
Soundplate is a free platform that connects artists with playlist curators across various genres. The platform offers a user-friendly interface for browsing and submitting music to relevant playlists.
Artists can search Soundplate’s database of playlists by genre, mood, or keywords to find suitable curators. To submit, artists click the “Submit Music” button on a playlist page and enter their track details. Submissions are free, but artists are required to follow the curator’s playlist on Spotify. Curators review the submissions and add tracks they like to their playlists. Soundplate does not guarantee responses or placements but provides a streamlined process for artists to reach multiple curators.
7. Tunemunk
Tunemunk is a free platform that connects independent artists with playlist curators. It aims to simplify the music submission process and provide opportunities for artists to gain exposure through playlist placements.
Tunemunk operates on a submission gate system. Playlist curators submit their playlists to the platform, and artists can then access these playlists through Tunemunk’s submission gate. To submit their music, artists are required to follow the curator’s playlist and one of Tunemunk’s playlists. This approach ensures engagement from both parties. The platform is entirely free for artists, supported by minimal advertising. Tunemunk does not give special treatment to any playlists; instead, they are ordered based on the number of views each submission gate receives in the past 30 days. This system encourages curators to promote their gates actively. Importantly, Tunemunk strictly prohibits payola, ensuring a fair playing field for all artists.
8. Boost Collective
Boost Collective is a comprehensive music distribution and promotion platform designed to help independent artists increase their visibility and grow their audience through playlist placements.
Artists can submit their music to Boost Collective by selecting their song on the platform’s website and choosing a promotional package that suits their needs. Within 24-48 hours, curators place the submitted tracks on playlists that align with the music’s style and have the greatest potential for success. Artists receive confirmation via email and can track their placements and campaign performance through a personalized dashboard. Boost Collective’s strategy leverages playlist exposure to gain listeners, which in turn helps streaming platforms like Spotify notice the artist, potentially leading to algorithmic support and organic growth. The platform has a track record of successful promotions, with over 37,000 campaigns completed and several case studies demonstrating significant increases in streams and listener growth for both emerging and established artists.
9. iMusician
iMusician is a digital music distributor that offers a range of services to help independent artists and labels sell, manage, and monetize their music across various streaming platforms and download stores worldwide.
iMusician provides unlimited music distribution for a one-time fee, allowing artists to get their music on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer, as well as genre-specific stores like Beatport and Traxsource. The platform offers additional services such as YouTube monetization, music analytics tools, and promotional resources through their Artist Hub. Artists can also access partner services for CD and vinyl pressing, merchandise design, and third-party promotion. iMusician’s approach is flexible, allowing for the release of compilations with multiple artists and supporting a wide range of genres, including electronic and classical music. The platform aims to maximize artists’ reach while providing them with the tools to optimize their releases and track their performance.
10. SubmitHub
SubmitHub is a popular platform that connects artists with music industry professionals, including playlist curators, music bloggers, record labels, and radio stations.
Artists can submit their tracks to a wide range of curators on SubmitHub. The platform offers both free and premium submissions. With free submissions, artists can send their music to curators without cost, but response times may be longer, and there’s no guarantee of feedback. Premium submissions require a small fee per submission but guarantee a response within 48 hours and often include detailed feedback. Curators on SubmitHub listen to the submitted tracks and decide whether to feature them on their playlists, blogs, or other media outlets. The platform provides artists with statistics on their submissions, including play counts and feedback ratings, helping them refine their submission strategy over time.
11. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is a music promotion platform that focuses on connecting artists with playlist curators to increase their music’s visibility and reach.
Artists can create an account on SoundCampaign and submit their music for review. The platform offers various campaign types, including playlist pitching and feedback campaigns. When submitting music, artists can target their audience by genre, mood, and other criteria to reach the most relevant curators. SoundCampaign provides analytics that allow artists to track the performance of their campaigns, including which playlists are generating the most streams. This data helps artists refine their promotion strategies. The platform also encourages artists to interact with curators through social media and direct messaging, fostering relationships within the music community. SoundCampaign emphasizes the importance of submitting high-quality, well-produced music to increase the chances of playlist inclusion.