Playlists are one of the most powerful discovery tools on Spotify, helping listeners find new music while giving artists an opportunity to reach audiences beyond their existing fan base. For emerging and independent artists especially, playlisting can play a major role in building momentum and credibility in a highly competitive music market.
At its core, Spotify playlisting involves selecting and organizing tracks spotify playlisting into playlists based on a theme, genre, mood, activity, or artist style. These playlists can be created by Spotify’s in-house editorial team, independent curators, brands, influencers, or even regular users. When a song is added to a playlist with an engaged following, it can generate consistent streams, attract new listeners, and signal to Spotify’s algorithm that the track is resonating with audiences.
There are three main types of Spotify playlists. Editorial playlists are curated by Spotify’s own team and include popular lists such as “RapCaviar,” “Today’s Top Hits,” or genre-specific collections. Getting placed on an editorial playlist is highly competitive but can significantly boost an artist’s exposure. Algorithmic playlists, such as Release Radar, Discover Weekly, and Radio, are automatically generated by Spotify based on user behavior, listening history, and engagement patterns. User-generated and independent curator playlists are created by individuals or companies and often focus on niche genres or specific moods.
Spotify playlisting works best when combined with strategic music promotion. Artists typically submit unreleased tracks to Spotify for editorial consideration through Spotify for Artists. At the same time, they may pitch their music to independent playlist curators whose playlists align with their sound.