How to Submit Your Music to Playlists: A Guide for Independent Artists
Getting on playlists is one of the most effective ways to grow your audience in today’s streaming landscape. But with millions of tracks released each week, how do you actually get playlisted?
Whether you're releasing your first single or building momentum for an album, this guide breaks down the key ways to submit your music to playlists—including free, paid, and DIY options.
1. Pitch Through Spotify for Artists (Free)
If your music is distributed to Spotify, you can pitch directly to Spotify’s editorial team through Spotify for Artists. This feature is free and should be your first step when releasing new music.
To pitch:
Submit at least 7 days before release
Fill out the genre, mood, instruments, and culture tags carefully
Promote your artist profile to drive algorithmic support
Even if you don’t land an editorial playlist, pitching boosts your chances of being added to algorithmic playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly.
2. Use a Playlist Pitching Service (Paid, Time-Saving)
Services like Playlist Push or EAR Pitch (more below) offer access to independent playlist curators in exchange for a fee. These platforms can save time, but results may vary depending on the quality of your song, targeting, and the playlist curators themselves.
EAR Pitch – Curated Playlist Pitching (Paid)
EAR Pitch is our in-house playlist pitching service that connects your music with relevant Spotify playlist curators, blogs, and tastemakers. You submit once, and our team handles the targeting and outreach.
✔️ Human-curated outreach
✔️ Saves time and guesswork
✔️ Built for indie and emerging artists
3. Use Music Submission Marketplaces
Platforms like SubmitHub, Groover, and Musosoup allow artists to pitch to a mix of playlists, blogs, influencers, and YouTube channels. You’ll usually pay per credit or submission, and feedback is often provided.
Pros: Affordable, direct contact
Cons: Can be time-consuming, variable quality
Pro tip: Focus on quality over quantity—pitch only to playlists that genuinely match your sound.
4. Contact Independent Curators Directly (DIY, Free)
Many playlist curators list contact info in their Spotify bios, Linktrees, or social profiles. You can pitch directly by sending a short, respectful message with:
Your song link (Spotify preferred)
A quick intro (genre, vibe, release context)
Why you think it fits their playlist
Keep it concise, professional, and personal.
5. Submit to EAR Curated Playlists (Free)
At Elton Audio Records, we run a wide range of curated playlists across genres—from indie pop to electronic to heavy rock. Artists can submit for free, and we update playlists regularly based on quality, fit, and sound.
EAR Playlists include:
EARSCAPE (electronic indie, vaporwave)
EARWORM (chill indie pop)
EAR SALT (alt rock + indie rock)
EAR FUNK, EAR GAUGE, EAR PEACE, and more
Final Thoughts: Strategy Matters More Than Spam
Getting your music on playlists isn’t about blasting links to anyone who’ll listen. It’s about targeted outreach, quality presentation, and understanding where your music fits best.
Build relationships. Be consistent. And pitch smarter—not just harder.
Ready to Grow Your Audience?
Combine smart pitching with a release strategy that includes pre-saves, press, and playlist-ready metadata. And when you're ready to level up:
Submit your music to EAR Playlists for free
Or save time with a custom strategy via EAR Pitch
Let your sound be heard—one playlist at a time.
