Streaming has changed the music industry forever, both for the better and worse.
Many artists complain about not making enough money through individual song streams, compared to the earnings from album sales.
Other musicians, in contrast, are happy because their work can be discovered through the ultimate road trip playlist or another Spotify playlist made by listeners or curators.
One of the best ways to get noticed on Spotify is when your music features on a playlist, as others will share the playlist and more people may enjoy your song.
Below are five ways to get yourself featured on a Spotify curated playlist.
1. Verify Your Account
Indie musicians and aspiring artists all notice that if your account on Spotify is not verified, you will not be chosen for curated playlists. Luckily, the process to verify your account is very easy.
You can fill out a form through the Spotify website, and the company may ask you to verify specific information through additional documents or pictures. Comply with their requests through secure platforms, and your account will have a checkmark next to it very soon.
Such verification ensures that you have more control over your artist page, while you can also access statistics about the number of times a specific track has been streamed.
2. Be More Active on the Platform
The more active you are on Spotify, the more chances of your songs being chosen for curated or fan-selected playlists. If you are putting out more music on Spotify, the algorithm is much more likely to pick your songs for genre and specialty playlists as well.
You should always be releasing new music, even if you are releasing a single track at a time. A lot of aspiring artists obsess over having the perfect album before they can release something onto Spotify and other music streaming services.
Wanting an entire album as an aspiring musician is a mistake, as you are missing out on a lot of build-up for each track. You can release each track as an EP, or create mini-albums of three or four tracks.
Each release generates a buzz, which is more likely to get you noticed on the platform.
3. Promote Yourself on Other Platforms
The beauty of the internet is that if you put in a lot of work to promote your content, you can reap the rewards. One of the best ways to get featured on Spotify playlists is to promote your content on social media networks and other websites.
You should have artist pages on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. Each platform has a unique audience, which means you must post in a way that appeals to the specific demographic you are targeting. Release information about new music, include links to Spotify tracks and albums and do not be shy about engaging with fans.
If you are active on social media, your music has a much better chance of being heard by a lot of people.
4. Aim For Small Victories
Every indie artist wants to get their work featured on the larger, official playlists that are put together by Spotify employees or special listeners. While that is the eventual goal, you are much better off aiming for small victories.
One of the biggest achievements for an indie artist is to get their song on algorithmic playlists, as those are what most people listen to on the platform. If your music is Hip Hop, then you will want to be on the latest Hip Hop playlists generated by Spotify’s algorithm.
As you get featured more often on those playlists, which happens when you release a lot of music and promote it on social media, your stock will rise on Spotify. More people listen to your songs, which makes them more popular, and that gets them on more playlists.
5. Use Your Connections
As you spend more years within the music industry, you will make connections. Whether you meet someone at a concert, run into them at a coffee shop, or get introduced by a friend, you should take advantage of everyone you know within the music space.
You may even connect with Spotify curators online. Perhaps they share some of your social media posts or comment on your posts. Use those connections. Do not be afraid to message people online to ask them about featuring your music on Spotify playlists.
Rejection is a part of the process, and not every attempt to use a connection will be successful. Avoid feeling disheartened, and continue trying to work every angle to get your music to a more prominent position on Spotify.
