Spotify for Artists: how to pitch your song to editorial playlists

What pitching from Spotify for Artists is

Spotify for Artists includes a pitching tool that lets any verified artist submit ONE unreleased song per release to Spotify's editorial team. It's the official route and the ONLY one that can place you on Spotify-owned editorial playlists (Today's Top Hits, RapCaviar, Viva Latino, etc.). It's completely free. If anyone charges you for "access to Spotify's editorial pitch", it's a scam.

Prerequisites

You need: claimed and verified Spotify for Artists profile, song uploaded to distribution at least 7 days before release, genre correctly assigned in distribution, and quality square cover art. Without these, the pitch tool doesn't appear or appears disabled.

How to submit the pitch

1) Go to artists.spotify.com, "Music" > "Upcoming". 2) Select the unreleased song. 3) Click "Pitch". 4) Fill in: primary genre, sub-genres, mood (uplifting, dark, romantic, etc.), lead instruments, language, recording location, whether it's a cover/collab/remix, and a free-text context. 5) Submit and wait for release day.

What to write in the free text

It's the most important part. The editorial team reads human text, not templates. Briefly say: where the song comes from, what makes it particular, which specific editorial playlist you have in mind, and why it fits (not "any you can", but a specific one). 4-6 clear sentences weigh more than 20 lines of adjectives. If you have an honest story behind the track, tell it. If you've played with artists relevant to that playlist, mention it.

Common editorial pitch mistakes

1) Pitching with less than 7 days lead — you lose priority. 2) Assigning the wrong genre "to look more commercial" — the algorithm misclassifies you afterward. 3) Leaving the free text blank. 4) Pitching to editorial playlists that clearly don't fit (Reggaeton Star if your track is indie folk). 5) Buying external services that promise to "pitch for you" — unnecessary and sometimes done badly.

What happens after the pitch

The editorial team reviews thousands of pitches per week. Most don't get direct replies. If your song enters an official editorial, it appears automatically with no prior notice. If it doesn't, there's no feedback. Regardless of the editorial outcome, the metadata you submitted feeds the algorithm and improves your odds for Release Radar, Discover Weekly, and personalised radios.

After Spotify for Artists

The editorial pitch is just one leg. The second leg is the behaviour of your first listeners (saves, completes, repeats). The third is independent playlists and directories. The full flow is in submit music to Spotify playlists and the template for independent pitches in pitch template.