To pitch your song to Spotify's editorial playlists from India, you submit it through your Spotify for Artists dashboard before the song is released — ideally at least a week ahead, and the earlier the better. That single rule, pitching while the track is still unreleased, is the thing most artists get wrong. This guide covers the three kinds of playlists, how to pitch, and what makes a pitch land.
Make sure your release is scheduled with enough lead time first — see the step-by-step Spotify release guide.
The three kinds of Spotify playlists
- Editorial playlists — curated by Spotify's in-house team (like the ones you see on Browse). You reach these only by pitching through Spotify for Artists before release.
- Algorithmic playlists — Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Radio. You don't pitch these; they respond to real listener behaviour, which is why day-one saves and streams matter.
- Independent playlists — run by other people and brands. You reach these by contacting curators directly (politely, with context).
The one rule: pitch before release
You can only pitch a song to Spotify editorial while it's still unreleased. Once it's live, the editorial pitch window has closed. Give yourself lead time: pitch as soon as your release is uploaded and scheduled — at minimum 7 days before release, ideally 3–4 weeks. The earlier you pitch, the more time the editorial team has to consider it.
How to pitch, step by step
- Claim your Spotify for Artists profile (your distributor delivery makes the upcoming release appear there).
- Open the unreleased track in the dashboard and choose Pitch a song.
- Pick the primary genre and mood — be accurate, not aspirational. Wrong tags hurt you.
- Add context: the story of the song, instruments, language, whether it's part of a bigger moment. Editors read this.
- Submit. You can only have one song pitched at a time, so pitch your strongest upcoming release.
What makes a pitch land
Honest, specific tagging; a short, human description (not marketing fluff); and momentum — a song that's already getting pre-saves and early interest signals to editors that listeners care. Pair your pitch with a strong release plan rather than relying on the pitch alone.
Beyond editorial
Editorial placement is never guaranteed, so don't bet everything on it. Drive day-one streams with a pre-save campaign, reach out to independent curators in your genre, and keep releasing consistently — the algorithm rewards artists who build a real, returning audience. Distribution, monetisation, and discovery all connect; see the full distribution guide for the big picture.