In today’s digital age, getting your music heard can be a daunting task for independent artists. With the sheer volume of new tracks released daily, standing out from the crowd requires more than just talent—it requires strategic placement. This is where playlist curators come into play. These curators have the power to make or break a song by featuring it in playlists that reach thousands, if not millions, of listeners. As an indie artist myself, I’ve experienced firsthand the impact that a well-placed track can have on your visibility and streams.
In this article, I’ll be sharing the 10 best playlist curators to submit your music to. These curators have a proven track record of helping artists gain the exposure they need to take their careers to the next level.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to boost your existing fan base, these platforms offer a variety of options to get your music in front of the right ears. Let’s dive in and explore how each of these curators can help you achieve your musical dreams.
1. Indiemono
Indiemono is a well-known independent music curator that began its journey in 2012. It focuses on music discovery and offers a free submission system for artists. Indiemono curates a variety of playlists, covering multiple genres and moods, making it a valuable platform for emerging artists.
Indiemono operates a free submission system where artists can submit their music to various categories. Each submission is reviewed and, if selected, added to one of their playlists. The process is straightforward: artists fill out a form corresponding to the genre or mood of their music. The submitted tracks are then sorted into private playlists for review. Indiemono emphasizes the importance of genuine music discovery and aims to support independent artists by featuring them in playlists that can potentially boost their visibility on platforms like Spotify.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is a prominent online platform dedicated to curating and distributing music playlists across major streaming services like Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud. Known for their diverse and thematic playlists, Playlist Curator aims to fit any mood or occasion, making it a valuable resource for both listeners and artists.
Submitting music to Playlist Curator is a straightforward process. Artists can visit their submission page and fill out a form with details about their track. The platform receives hundreds of submissions each month, and each one is carefully reviewed by their team of curators. They use strict criteria to assess the quality and suitability of the music for their playlists. If your track is selected, it will be featured in one of their popular playlists, which cover a wide range of themes such as love, life, resilience, and adventure.
Playlist Curator’s playlists are accessible on major streaming platforms, ensuring that your music reaches a broad audience. They offer playlists for various moods and occasions, from mainstream hits to indie gems. Additionally, users can register an account on their website to bookmark their favorite playlists and listen to them at any time. This feature enhances user engagement and ensures that your music remains easily accessible to listeners.
3. SubmitHub
SubmitHub is a popular platform that connects artists with playlist curators, bloggers, and influencers. Launched in 2015, it has become a go-to service for musicians looking to get their music heard by a wider audience.
SubmitHub allows artists to submit their music to various curators through a credit-based system. Artists purchase credits and use them to send their tracks to curators who then review and decide whether to feature the music. The platform provides feedback from curators, which can be valuable for artists looking to improve their craft. SubmitHub also offers both free and premium submission options, with premium submissions guaranteeing a response within 48 hours. The platform’s transparency and feedback mechanism make it a trusted choice for many artists.
4. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a service designed to help artists get their music onto Spotify playlists. It connects artists with curators who are looking for new music to feature in their playlists.
Artists start by creating a campaign on Playlist Push, specifying their music genre and target audience. The platform then matches the artist’s music with relevant curators. Playlist Push charges a fee for these campaigns, which varies based on the number of curators the artist wants to reach. The service guarantees that the music will be sent to curators who are likely to be interested, increasing the chances of playlist placements. This targeted approach helps artists reach the right audience and gain more streams on Spotify.
5. SoundCampaign
SoundCampaign is a platform that connects artists with Spotify playlist curators. It aims to help artists gain more exposure and streams by getting their music featured in playlists.
Artists create a campaign on SoundCampaign by selecting their music genre and setting a budget. The platform then pitches the music to relevant curators who may add the tracks to their playlists. SoundCampaign offers detailed analytics, allowing artists to track the performance of their campaigns. The service focuses on transparency and effectiveness, ensuring that artists get the most out of their investment. By targeting specific curators, SoundCampaign helps artists reach listeners who are likely to appreciate their music.
6. MySphera
MySphera is a freemium Spotify playlisting service that pairs artists with curators. It offers both free and paid submission options, catering to a wide range of genres.
Artists can submit their music for free through a curator contact form, though this option has a limited reach. For broader exposure, artists can run a paid campaign where MySphera pitches their music to a larger pool of curators. Paid campaigns include features like a minimum reach guarantee, weekly updates, and social media promotion. MySphera specializes in genres such as Hip-hop, EDM, Lofi, and Electronic. The platform aims to help artists generate buzz and gain algorithmic support from Spotify, making it a valuable tool for those looking to boost their streaming numbers.
7. iMusician
iMusician is a digital music distribution service that also offers playlist curation. They help independent artists get their music on various streaming platforms and curated playlists, enhancing their visibility and reach.
To submit music to iMusician’s playlists, artists need to visit their playlist submission page and select the playlist that best matches their genre. The submission process involves filling out a form with necessary details about the track and the artist. Once submitted, the track is reviewed by iMusician’s curators. If the track meets their standards and fits well with the chosen playlist, it will be added. This process not only helps artists get featured but also allows them to connect with new audiences through iMusician’s established playlists.
8. Daily Playlists
Daily Playlists is a platform designed to simplify the process of submitting music to playlist curators. Launched in 2017, it aims to streamline music submissions for both artists and curators, making it easier to discover new music.
Artists can submit their music to Daily Playlists by creating an account and uploading their tracks. The platform features a user-friendly interface where artists can search for playlists that match their genre and submit their music directly. Daily Playlists also offers a submission tracking system, allowing artists to see the status of their submissions. With over 3,800 curators and 16,000 active playlists, the platform provides a broad network for artists to tap into, increasing their chances of getting featured and gaining more streams.
9. Soundplate
Soundplate is a music platform that helps artists connect with playlist curators. It offers tools for playlist submission, music promotion, and analytics, making it a comprehensive service for independent musicians.
Soundplate allows artists to submit their music to curated playlists through their submission page. Artists can select the genre of their track to find appropriate playlists and submit their music for consideration. The platform also provides insights into the curators’ reach and engagement, helping artists choose the best playlists for their music. Soundplate emphasizes the importance of matching the right track with the right playlist to maximize exposure and listener engagement. Additionally, the platform offers promotional services to help artists grow their audience.
10. SongRocket
SongRocket is a music promotion service that connects artists with playlist curators, bloggers, and influencers. It aims to help artists increase their visibility and gain more streams through strategic playlist placements.
Artists can submit their music to SongRocket by creating a campaign on the platform. The process involves selecting the target audience and genre, after which SongRocket pitches the music to relevant curators. The platform offers both free and paid submission options, with paid campaigns providing additional features like guaranteed feedback and analytics. SongRocket’s targeted approach ensures that the music reaches curators who are most likely to appreciate and feature it, thereby increasing the chances of success for the artists.
11. For The Love Of Bands
For The Love Of Bands is a music blog and playlist curator that focuses on promoting independent and emerging artists. They offer free playlist submissions and feature new music on their blog, providing a platform for artists to reach new audiences.
Artists can submit their music to For The Love Of Bands via their submission page. The platform offers several submission options, including free submissions and paid options that allow artists to skip the queue or receive additional promotion. Submissions are reviewed by curators, and if selected, the tracks are added to the appropriate playlists. For The Love Of Bands also features selected tracks on their blog and social media channels, providing additional exposure for the artists. The platform supports a variety of genres but focuses mainly on indie, alternative, and emerging music.
