How to Find the Best Spotify Playlists and Submit Your Music to Them (2025 Edition)
You’ve finished producing your track, you’ve distributed it to Spotify, and now you’re eager to get it heard. But just uploading your song isn't enough — to stand out in today’s streaming jungle, you need playlist placements.
Spotify playlists are one of the most powerful tools for growing your fanbase, boosting your streams, and catching the eyes (and ears) of industry professionals. But with so many playlists — and shady curators — it’s crucial to know how to find legit, effective playlists and how to submit your music the right way.
This guide covers:
The different types of Spotify playlists
How to evaluate if a playlist is organic or fake
Step-by-step submission strategies
Bonus tips to maximize playlist exposure
🎧 Understanding the 3 Types of Spotify Playlists
Before you start pitching your music, you must know the landscape. Spotify playlists fall into three main categories, and each plays a unique role in your promotional journey.
1. Editorial Playlists – Curated by Spotify’s In-House Team
These are the big ones — the holy grail of playlisting. Editorial playlists are handpicked by Spotify’s own editors and reach millions of listeners worldwide. They often dominate genres and trends.
Top Editorial Playlists:
Today’s Top Hits – Over 34M followers, Spotify’s #1 pop playlist.
RapCaviar – 15M+ followers, shaping the future of hip-hop.
Viva Latino – 13.5M+ followers, the heart of Latin hits.
Rock Classics – A go-to for timeless rock tracks.
Beast Mode – High-energy tracks perfect for workouts.
Mint – A massive dance/electronic playlist with global reach.
🎯 How to Get Featured:
Submit your music through Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release. The more metadata you provide (genre, mood, instrumentation, story behind the song), the better chance the editors have to match your track to a playlist.
🛑 Watch Out: No one can guarantee placement on Spotify editorial playlists. If someone says they can, it’s a scam. Spotify does not accept paid placements.
2. Algorithmic Playlists – Powered by Spotify’s AI
These are personalized playlists based on each listener’s behavior — and they’re an incredible tool for organic growth.
Most Powerful Algorithmic Playlists:
Discover Weekly – Refreshed every Monday with 30 new tracks based on what the listener enjoys.
Release Radar – Features new music from artists a user follows or listens to.
Daily Mixes – Multiple playlists based on listening habits, genre preferences, and repeat songs.
On Repeat / Repeat Rewind – Showcasing favorite tracks from recent and past listening history.
🎯 How to Trigger These Playlists:
Get fans to save your track, not just stream it.
Focus on getting engagement in the first 72 hours.
Use pre-save campaigns and build a mailing list to notify fans before release.
Ask listeners to follow you on Spotify.
Spotify’s algorithm values real fan interaction. The more saves, shares, and playlist adds you receive early, the more likely your music will be pushed to new listeners.
3. User-Generated Playlists – Made by Independent Curators
This is where most indie artists start — and it’s a powerful gateway into the Spotify ecosystem.
These playlists are created by regular users or niche curators and can range from 500 followers to hundreds of thousands. They cater to specific moods, genres, or communities.
Popular User-Generated Playlists:
Lofi Girl – A cultural phenomenon in chill beats.
Rap Nation / Trap Nation – Curated by YouTube tastemakers.
Coffee & Chill / Study Vibes / Sunset Drive – Mood-based playlists that generate tons of passive listening.
Afropop Central / Amapiano Nation – Playlists focused on African sounds.
🎯 Why They Matter:
Easier to access than editorial playlists.
Can build momentum that triggers algorithmic playlists.
Offer niche targeting: perfect for genre-specific artists.
But be cautious: some user-generated playlists are fake or botted.
🚨 How to Identify Fake Playlists (And Find Real Ones)
Not every playlist with 100K followers is legitimate. Many curators use bots to inflate numbers — which results in zero real streams and potential damage to your artist profile.
🔍 Spotting the Real vs Fake: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide
Pick a playlist you're interested in.
Preferably one in your genre with 5K–100K followers.
Choose a song from the middle of the playlist.
Avoid the first and last few songs to minimize skewed results.
Click on the artist’s name > go to their profile.
Scroll to the "Discovered On" section.
Click “See all.”
Check if the playlist shows up.
If it’s one of the top playlists listed, it means the playlist is generating real traffic to that song.
No appearance in "Discovered On"?
Likely a fake or low-engagement playlist.
Repeat the process with another song to be sure.
💡 Pro Tip: Real playlists drive visibility. If multiple artists featured on a playlist don’t show that playlist under “Discovered On,” avoid it.
📬 How to Submit Your Music to Spotify Playlists in 2025
Ready to pitch? There are 3 effective submission methods:
1. Spotify Editorial Submission (Free)
Go to Spotify for Artists
Navigate to “Music” > “Upcoming”
Select the song you want to pitch
Fill out all the metadata: genre, mood, instrumentation, culture, language, etc.
Submit!
📌 Do this at least 7 days before your song goes live.
2. Directly Reach Out to Curators (Manual Approach)
Find playlist owners on:
Instagram bios
LinkedIn
Reddit communities (e.g., r/SpotifyPlaylists)
Playlist description boxes (some leave emails or IG handles)
Craft a short, respectful message:
Personalize your pitch
Include a direct Spotify link to the song
Mention why your track fits the playlist's vibe
🎯 Don’t mass email. Focus on relevance over quantity.
3. Use Music Submission Platforms (Fast + Targeted)
Curator platforms allow you to pitch your track to hundreds of verified playlist owners, blogs, influencers, radio stations, and labels.
Top Platforms:
SubmitHub
Groover
OneSubmit
The Buzz Network (curator access + review guarantee)
Benefits:
Pitch to curators by genre or mood
Receive feedback from real people
Refund or re-credit if no response
Save time vs cold outreach
🛑 Avoid platforms that guarantee “X streams” — they’re often bot-driven.
🔧 Bonus Tips: Make the Most of Your Playlist Placements
Landing a spot is just the beginning. Here’s how to turn placement into momentum:
Promote the playlist on social media and tag the curator
Add it to your Smart Link (Linktree, ToneDen, etc.)
Encourage fans to follow the playlist
Use the opportunity to build relationships with curators
Ask curators for feedback (if offered)
Keep releasing consistently to stay on their radar
🚀 Final Thoughts: Getting Playlisted on Spotify in 2025
Spotify playlists can launch careers — but only if you approach them strategically.
By:
Understanding the different playlist types,
Vetting curators properly,
Submitting smartly,
And leveraging each win for long-term growth,
…you can build a real fanbase and increase your chances of catching Spotify’s editorial eye.
🎯 Ready to Start Submitting?
Let The Buzz Network help you connect with top curators, influencers, and music tastemakers. Submit your track to our team, get real feedback, and grow your streams — the right way.
More Resources for Independent Artists: