As an independent musician, I know firsthand the thrill of creating music and the challenge of getting it heard. In today’s digital age, playlists have become the new radio, and landing your tracks on popular playlists can be a game-changer for your career. But with countless playlist curators out there, it’s hard to know where to start.
That’s why I’ve done the legwork for you. After countless hours of research and personal experience, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best playlist curators to submit your music to. These aren’t just any curators – they’re the cream of the crop, known for their reach, influence, and genuine passion for discovering new talent.
Whether you’re a bedroom producer or an established indie artist looking to expand your audience, these curators offer real opportunities to boost your streams and gain new followers.
1. For the Love of Bands
For the Love of Bands is a passionate community of music enthusiasts dedicated to discovering and promoting emerging indie artists. This curator collective focuses on curating playlists that showcase a diverse range of indie rock, alternative, and folk genres. Their playlists are carefully crafted to provide listeners with a fresh and exciting musical experience while offering independent artists valuable exposure.
With a growing following of dedicated music fans, For the Love of Bands has become a trusted source for discovering new talent. Their curators are known for their keen ear and ability to spot promising artists before they hit the mainstream. Submitting your music to For the Love of Bands can be an excellent opportunity to reach a highly engaged audience of indie music lovers.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is a prominent and professional music curation service that has established itself as a leading platform for carefully crafted playlists across major streaming platforms such as Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud. Founded by Serena Whitfield, a musician with a distinguished background in music from the University of Oxford, Playlist Curator prides itself on its meticulous approach to playlist creation and curation.
At the heart of Playlist Curator’s mission is a commitment to professional playlist curation that relies on human expertise rather than algorithms. The team, which includes experienced curators like Jasper Clarke, a professional guitarist with a passion for diverse genres, carefully listens to and evaluates thousands of songs before selecting the best ones for their playlists. This hands-on approach ensures that each playlist maintains a high standard of quality and thematic coherence.
The platform offers a wide range of playlists catering to various moods, occasions, and musical preferences. From uplifting “Songs About the Sun and Sunshine” to introspective “Songs About Surrender,” Playlist Curator provides a diverse selection that resonates with listeners across different emotional spectrums. The service regularly updates its playlists, keeping them fresh and engaging while maintaining their core essence.
Playlist Curator has gained significant traction in the music industry, boasting over 100,000 followers across their playlists and more than 500 actively curated collections. This success is attributed to their rigorous quality control process and their ability to stay current with the latest trends in the music industry while also showcasing timeless classics.
For artists looking to submit their music, Playlist Curator offers a straightforward submission process. However, the platform maintains strict criteria for song selection, ensuring that only high-quality tracks that align with the playlist themes are included. This selective approach helps maintain the integrity and popularity of their playlists among listeners.
The platform also offers a user-friendly experience for music enthusiasts. Visitors can explore a vast array of playlists on the website, and registered users can bookmark their favorite playlists for easy access later. This feature enhances the overall user experience and encourages regular engagement with the platform.
3. Indiemono
Indiemono is a popular platform that connects independent artists with playlist curators and music enthusiasts. This curator service stands out for its user-friendly submission process and its commitment to supporting emerging talent across various genres. Indiemono offers a free submission tool for indie artists, making it accessible to musicians at all stages of their careers.
One of Indiemono’s strengths is its diverse range of playlists, covering genres from indie rock and electronic to hip-hop and folk. Their curators are known for their dedication to discovering fresh sounds and providing constructive feedback to artists. By submitting your music to Indiemono, you increase your chances of gaining legitimate playlist placements and boosting your streaming figures in an authentic way.
4. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is an innovative platform that bridges the gap between music artists and playlist curators. This service offers a unique approach by allowing curators to earn rewards for discovering and promoting new music, while artists benefit from increased exposure on Spotify playlists. SoundCampaign’s model is designed to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem for both artists and curators.
One of SoundCampaign’s strengths is its extensive network of curators specializing in niche genres. This allows for more targeted playlist placements, increasing the likelihood of reaching the right audience for your music. While their playlists may be smaller compared to some other services, they often cater to more specific tastes, potentially leading to higher engagement rates among listeners.
SoundCampaign also provides artists with curator responses and the opportunity to reply, fostering a more interactive and transparent submission process. By utilizing SoundCampaign’s services, independent artists can tap into a diverse network of passionate curators and potentially gain valuable playlist placements to boost their Spotify presence.
5. Daily Playlists
Daily Playlists is a dynamic music promotion and marketing platform catering to both independent artists and music curators. This service offers artists a unique opportunity to promote their music by submitting tracks to independent curators across various streaming platforms, with a particular focus on Spotify. One of Daily Playlists’ standout features is its free tier, allowing artists to submit their music to over 18,000 playlists at no cost. This approach makes it an excellent starting point for emerging artists who are still learning the ropes of music marketing.
The platform operates on a two-tier system with different submission types, giving artists flexibility in how they promote their music. Daily Playlists also provides additional tools for artists, such as contest features to engage their fan base and community feedback options. For curators, the platform offers opportunities to monetize and grow their brand through curation software and intelligence tools. With its artist-friendly approach and commitment to supporting both sides of the music promotion equation, Daily Playlists has become a valuable resource in the independent music scene.
6. MySphera
MySphera is an innovative platform that empowers independent playlist curators to create, promote, and showcase their playlists to a wide audience. This service acts as a bridge between curators and artists, facilitating music discovery and promotion in a unique way. MySphera’s approach allows for a diverse ecosystem of playlists, catering to various genres and niches, which benefits both artists looking for exposure and listeners seeking new music experiences.
The platform likely employs an algorithm or matching system to connect artists with relevant curators based on factors such as genre, style, or other musical elements. This streamlined process increases the chances of artists finding suitable playlists for their music while helping curators discover tracks that align with their playlist themes. By fostering this symbiotic relationship between artists and curators, MySphera contributes to a more dynamic and inclusive music promotion landscape.
7. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a well-established service that connects independent artists with a vast network of playlist curators across various streaming platforms. What sets Playlist Push apart is its rigorous manual verification and vetting process for curators and their playlists. This ensures that artists are placed on impactful playlists with genuine listener engagement. To be part of the Playlist Push network, curators must have at least 1,000 followers on their playlist and maintain consistent listener engagement.
The platform utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze playlists for monthly listener counts and what they call “Playlist DNA”. This data-driven approach enables precise targeting, ensuring that an artist’s music is promoted to playlists where it is most likely to resonate with listeners. Playlist Push also offers a unique pre-release feature, allowing curators to review tracks up to 14 days before their official release, with selected songs added to playlists on the release day. With its combination of curator quality control, algorithmic matching, and flexible submission options, Playlist Push provides artists with a powerful tool for increasing their visibility in the competitive world of music streaming.
8. SongRocket
SongRocket is an innovative AI-powered playlist promotion platform that connects artists, labels, and agencies with playlist curators across major streaming platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud. Founded in April 2021 by artist and producer Luk, SongRocket has quickly established itself as a user-friendly solution for independent artists seeking playlist placements. The platform boasts a network of over 350 curators with a combined reach of more than 22 million playlist followers, offering artists a wide range of opportunities for exposure.
One of SongRocket’s key strengths is its affordability and accessibility. With campaigns starting as low as $6, artists can pitch their music to relevant curators in just minutes. The platform uses AI technology to match submissions with appropriate playlists, increasing the chances of successful placements. SongRocket also emphasizes the importance of both editorial and independent playlist placements, providing a comprehensive approach to music promotion. Its growing popularity is evident from its impressive client list, which includes renowned artists like Timmy Trumpet, Mike Williams, and MOGUAI.
9. Soundplate
Soundplate is a free platform that serves as a bridge between independent artists and playlist curators across various genres. The service offers a straightforward and accessible way for musicians to submit their tracks to a diverse range of playlists. Soundplate’s user-friendly interface allows artists to search for playlists by genre, mood, or keywords, making it easy to find curators that align with their musical style.
What sets Soundplate apart is its commitment to fostering a supportive community for both artists and curators. The platform regularly highlights highly-rated playlist curators based on positive feedback from artists, creating a system of accountability and recognition. This approach not only helps artists find reputable playlists but also encourages curators to maintain high standards. Soundplate’s free submission process, coupled with its vast database of playlists, makes it an attractive option for independent artists looking to expand their reach without breaking the bank.
10. iMusician
iMusician is a comprehensive digital music distribution service that has expanded its offerings to include playlist pitching opportunities for artists. This dual-purpose platform allows musicians to not only distribute their music across major streaming platforms but also promote it through playlist submissions. iMusician’s playlist submission tool is available to artists who distribute their music through the service, creating an integrated ecosystem for music distribution and promotion.
The platform offers a curated selection of playlists across various genres, allowing artists to browse and submit their tracks directly to playlist owners. This direct connection between artists and curators streamlines the submission process and potentially increases the chances of successful placements. While iMusician doesn’t guarantee placements, its combination of distribution and playlist pitching services provides a comprehensive solution for independent artists looking to manage both aspects of their music career in one place. This integrated approach sets iMusician apart in the crowded field of music promotion services.
