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How to Get Your Music Featured and Increase Spotify Streams

Spotify has become a dominant force in the music industry. With over 450 million active users and over 70 million tracks available, it is an essential platform for any artist aiming to grow their fanbase and increase their streams. However, getting noticed in such a vast ocean of content can be challenging. This article outlines effective strategies for getting your music featured and increasing your Focus Spotify plays.

Optimize Your Spotify Profile

Before you begin focusing on promoting your music, make sure your Spotify profile is polished and professional. A well-crafted profile creates a good first impression and ensures potential fans take you seriously.

Create an Engaging Artist Bio

Your bio should reflect your identity as an artist, your style, and your music’s message. Include relevant details such as where you’re from, your musical influences, and any notable achievements. Having a compelling bio helps create a connection between you and your audience.

Add High-Quality Photos and Artwork

Your profile picture and cover photo are essential to how you present yourself on the platform. Choose high-quality images that align with your brand and convey your artistic identity. Additionally, each release should have professional artwork that reflects the essence of your music. A strong visual presence helps in standing out.

Make Use of Playlists

Spotify allows you to link your music to curated playlists, and your own playlists can be featured on your profile. Curating playlists that include your songs along with those of other similar artists can showcase your taste and increase your visibility.

Submit Your Music to Spotify’s Editorial Playlists

Getting your music on Spotify’s editorial playlists is one of the most effective ways to increase streams. These playlists are curated by Spotify’s editorial team and are among the most influential in driving traffic to your tracks. Here’s how you can submit your music:

Use Spotify for Artists

Spotify for Artists is a free tool that allows musicians to manage their profiles, track their analytics, and submit music for playlist consideration. To submit a track for a playlist:

Go to Spotify for Artists.

Select the song you want to submit.

Click on “Submit a Song for Playlist Consideration.”

Fill out the required details, such as the genre, mood, and instruments used.

Submit the track at least 7 days before its release date.

Engage with the Spotify Playlist Editors

While the submission process is mainly data-driven, you can also try engaging directly with playlist curators and editors. This can be a delicate process, but if done correctly, it may help you build a rapport with those who curate playlists. Be professional, concise, and ensure that your music fits the playlist’s theme or genre.

Submit Early

Editorial playlists are highly competitive, and the sooner you submit your music, the better your chances. Ideally, you should submit your tracks at least 2-3 weeks before your release date.

Use User-Generated Playlists

In addition to editorial playlists, user-generated playlists (those made by everyday Spotify users) are another avenue to explore. These playlists often have a dedicated and engaged following. Getting featured on these playlists can be incredibly beneficial for increasing streams.

Find Playlists in Your Genre

Use tools like Playlist Push, SubmitHub, or Playlist Submit to find playlists within your music genre. Reach out to playlist curators who feature artists with similar sounds and ask if they’re interested in adding your music. Be sure to follow any submission guidelines they may have.

Build Relationships with Curators

Networking with playlist curators can go a long way. Attend events, join online music communities, or interact with curators on social media platforms. Building a genuine relationship with them can increase the chances of your music being added to their playlists.

Focus on Smaller Playlists First

Large playlists are more difficult to get onto, but smaller, niche playlists can be a great starting point. These playlists might have fewer followers, but they often have more engaged listeners who are more likely to check out your entire catalog.

Promote Your Music Through Social Media

To increase your streams, leverage social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Engaging with your audience on these platforms helps create a community around your music and makes it more likely that people will follow you on Spotify.

Announce New Releases

Let your followers know when new music is available on Spotify. Tease your upcoming singles or albums with snippets, countdowns, and behind-the-scenes footage. Create hype before your release day to ensure your listeners are ready to stream as soon as the song drops.

Use Hashtags and Tags

Use relevant hashtags and location tags to increase visibility. Hashtags like #NowPlaying, #Spotify, and genre-specific tags can help attract new listeners. When you post about your music on Instagram, for example, include the song title and relevant tags in your post description.

Encourage Fans to Share Your Music

Encourage your followers to share your music with their networks. A simple call to action asking fans to share your song on their Instagram stories or Facebook feeds can significantly help expand your reach. Also, ask them to follow you on Spotify, as new followers are essential for growth.

Collaborate with Influencers

TikTok has become a powerful tool for music promotion, with viral videos leading to massive boosts in streams. Collaborating with influencers or TikTok creators who align with your music style can help you tap into a broader audience. Have them use your track in their videos to increase its visibility.

Use Spotify Ads

Spotify Ads can be a great way to get your music in front of a targeted audience. While it requires a budget, it can be effective in boosting streams and gaining new followers. You can create audio or video ads promoting your music or an upcoming release.

Audio Ads

Audio ads are played between songs for Spotify Free users. They can be used to drive traffic to your Spotify profile or promote a new release. Be sure to create a captivating ad with a strong call to action, encouraging listeners to check out your music.

Video Ads

Spotify also offers video ads, which play on the app’s interface. These ads allow you to get creative and give listeners a visual experience along with the audio. Since video ads are typically more engaging, they can help generate greater awareness and interest in your music.

Targeted Campaigns

Spotify allows you to create highly targeted campaigns based on listener demographics, interests, and behaviors. This ensures your music reaches the right people, whether they’re in your local area or part of your target audience worldwide.

Release Music Consistently

One of the best ways to increase your Spotify streams is to keep releasing music regularly. The more music you have on the platform, the more likely you are to be discovered by new listeners.

Create a Release Schedule

Planning out a release schedule ensures that you are consistently providing fresh content to your audience. If possible, aim to release new singles or albums every few months. This keeps your music relevant and top of mind for your listeners.

Maximize Each Release

When you release a new track, make sure to promote it extensively across all platforms. Post teasers, create shareable content, and encourage your fans to stream your song on repeat. The more you can promote each release, the more streams you will generate.

Leverage Spotify’s Fan Engagement Tools

Spotify offers several features that can help you connect with your fans and increase your visibility. Make sure you are making full use of these tools to keep your audience engaged.

Spotify Canvas

Spotify Canvas is a feature that allows you to upload a short looping video (3–8 seconds) that plays alongside your track. This feature can make your song more visually appealing and increase user engagement.

Spotify Stories

Much like Instagram or Facebook stories, Spotify now allows artists to post stories directly on their profiles. Use this feature to share exclusive behind-the-scenes content, announce new releases, or engage with your audience in real time.

Pre-Save Links

Creating pre-save links for your upcoming releases can help you generate excitement and anticipation. Pre-saving your music on Spotify allows fans to automatically have your new release added to their library as soon as it drops.

Analyze Your Data

Finally, track the performance of your releases. Use Spotify for Artists to analyze your streams, demographics, and the playlists your music appears on. Understanding your audience and how they interact with your music will allow you to refine your strategies and focus on what works.

Key Metrics to Monitor

Streams: The number of times your track has been played.

Monthly Listeners: How many unique listeners your music has each month.

Followers: The number of people who have followed you on Spotify.

Playlist Adds: The playlists your tracks have been added to.

Demographics: Insights into the age, gender, and location of your listeners.

By keeping a close eye on these metrics, you can identify trends and adjust your promotional efforts accordingly.

Conclusion

Getting your music featured and increasing Spotify streams is not an easy task, but with dedication, consistency, and smart strategies, it is absolutely achievable. Optimize your profile, submit your tracks to playlists, engage with your audience on social media, and make use of Spotify’s promotional tools. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can expand your reach, grow your fanbase, and achieve greater success on the platform.

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