As a DJ and singer, 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 playlist curators are the modern-day DJs who can make or break an artist’s career. When I first started trying to promote my own tracks, I felt lost in a sea of submission forms and unanswered emails. But after years of trial and error, I’ve discovered some fantastic playlist curators who not only give independent artists like us a fair shot but also genuinely care about the music they share.
In this article, I’m excited to share with you my top 10 picks for the best playlist curators to submit your music to. These platforms have helped me gain exposure, connect with new fans, and even collaborate with other artists. Whether you’re a bedroom producer just starting out or an established artist looking to expand your reach, these curators offer a variety of opportunities to get your music in front of the right audience.
1. Daily Playlists
Daily Playlists is a popular platform that connects independent artists with playlist curators, offering a streamlined submission process for musicians looking to gain exposure. The service allows artists to submit their tracks to a wide range of curators across various genres and moods. Daily Playlists operates on a credit-based system, where artists can use free Standard Submissions or purchase Premium Credits for guaranteed feedback from vetted curators.
One of the key features of Daily Playlists is its user-friendly interface, which allows artists to search for playlists that match their style and submit their music directly through the platform. The service also provides artists with a dashboard to track their submissions and view any feedback or placements they receive. Daily Playlists refreshes free Standard Submissions weekly, giving artists regular opportunities to promote their music without additional cost.
2. Playlist Curator
Playlist Curator is a prominent online platform dedicated to the art of curating high-quality music playlists across various themes and moods. Founded by Serena Whitfield, a musician and Oxford graduate with distinction in music studies, the platform prides itself on its meticulous and professional approach to playlist curation. Unlike many automated services, Playlist Curator relies on the expertise of its team, including professional guitarist Jasper Clarke, to handpick each track that makes it onto their playlists.
The platform’s curation process is rigorous and thoughtful, focusing on diverse music selection, thematic coherence, and strict quality control. Playlist Curator continuously explores new releases, emerging artists, and timeless classics across multiple genres to ensure their playlists remain fresh and engaging. They also value user feedback and regularly update their playlists to maintain relevance and discover new talent.
Playlist Curator has established a significant presence on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud. With over 100,000 followers across more than 500 actively curated playlists, the platform has become a go-to source for music enthusiasts seeking carefully crafted playlists for every mood and occasion. Their offerings range from themed collections like “Songs About the Sun and Sunshine” and “Songs About Hope” to more niche topics such as “Songs About Codependency” and “Songs About Bees”.
For artists looking to submit their music, Playlist Curator offers a straightforward submission process through their website. While they receive hundreds of submissions each month, they carefully consider each one against their strict criteria before including tracks in their popular playlists. This commitment to quality ensures that listeners consistently discover high-caliber music across various genres and themes.
3. Tunemunk
Tunemunk is an innovative playlist curation service that focuses on connecting emerging artists with playlist curators and music enthusiasts. While specific details about Tunemunk’s operations are not provided in the search results, it’s likely that the platform offers a similar submission process to other curator services, allowing artists to submit their tracks for consideration on various playlists.
Tunemunk may differentiate itself by focusing on particular genres or by offering unique features to help artists maximize their exposure. As with other playlist curation services, Tunemunk likely provides a platform for both artists and curators to connect, facilitating the discovery of new music and helping artists grow their audience on streaming platforms like Spotify.
4. SpinGrey
SpinGrey is a playlist curation service that offers artists the opportunity to submit their music for consideration on their curated playlists. What sets SpinGrey apart is its Patreon-based system, which allows artists to submit their music with priority to SpinGrey’s playlists and social channels. This approach provides a more direct line of communication between artists and curators, potentially increasing the chances of playlist placement.
The platform maintains a collection of curated playlists on Spotify, covering various genres and moods. Artists can explore these playlists to find the ones that best fit their style of music. SpinGrey also leverages social media, particularly Instagram, to share updates about their playlists and new releases, creating an additional channel for artist promotion. This multi-faceted approach to music curation and promotion makes SpinGrey an attractive option for artists looking to expand their reach and connect with new listeners.
5. iMusician
iMusician is a digital music distribution service that also offers playlist pitching capabilities. Artists who distribute their music through iMusician can access their playlist submission tool, allowing them to browse curated playlists across genres and submit tracks directly to playlist owners. This integrated approach provides a streamlined way for artists to both distribute and promote their music. Submissions through iMusician are free for artists using their distribution services, but placements are not guaranteed. The platform aims to provide a direct connection between artists and curators, potentially increasing the chances of playlist inclusion.
6. Submit Hub
Submit Hub is one of the most widely used platforms for connecting artists with playlist curators, bloggers, and other music industry professionals. It operates on a credit-based system, where artists can use free Standard Submissions or purchase Premium Credits for guaranteed feedback from vetted curators. Submit Hub’s user-friendly interface allows artists to search for playlists that match their style and submit their music directly through the platform. The service provides artists with a dashboard to track their submissions and view any feedback or placements they receive. One of the key advantages of Submit Hub is its transparency, providing detailed information about curators’ preferences, response rates, and typical sharing behaviors.
7. Playlist Push
Playlist Push is a premium service that focuses specifically on connecting independent artists with Spotify playlist curators. The platform boasts a network of over 4,000 playlists and uses an algorithm to match artists’ music with the most relevant curators based on genre and style. Playlist Push campaigns typically run for two weeks, with prices starting at $285 for submission to a minimum of 20 curators. The platform emphasizes its curator vetting process, manually verifying all curators and their playlists to ensure authenticity. Playlist Push also provides detailed analytics and feedback from curators, which can be valuable for artists looking to refine their promotional strategies. While more expensive than some alternatives, Playlist Push aims to offer a more targeted and potentially effective approach to playlist promotion.
8. For the Love of Bands
For the Love of Bands is a passionate playlist curator focused on promoting independent and emerging artists in the rock and alternative genres. The platform was created by music enthusiasts who wanted to support up-and-coming bands and help them gain exposure. For the Love of Bands curates multiple playlists on Spotify, each tailored to specific subgenres or moods within the rock spectrum, such as indie rock, pop-punk, and alternative metal.
Artists can submit their music to For the Love of Bands through their website, where they provide a simple submission form. The curators carefully listen to each submission and select tracks that fit their playlists’ themes and quality standards. One of the unique aspects of For the Love of Bands is their commitment to providing feedback to artists, even if their tracks are not selected for inclusion. This approach helps artists understand what curators are looking for and can aid in improving their future submissions.
9. MySphera
MySphera is a playlisting service that connects artists with a wide network of playlist curators across various genres. The platform describes itself as “the matchmaker between your music and tastemakers,” emphasizing its role in bridging the gap between artists and influential curators. MySphera operates on a tiered system, offering both free and paid submission options to artists.
One of MySphera’s key features is its analytical approach to submissions. The platform analyzes each track and matches it with the most relevant curators based on genre, style, and other factors. This targeted approach increases the chances of successful playlist placement. MySphera also offers a unique “No Features = Money Back” policy for their paid campaigns, providing artists with a level of assurance for their investment. The service covers a broad range of genres, making it a versatile option for artists across different musical styles.
10. Rizing Playlists
Rizing Playlists, based in Denmark, has established itself as a significant player in the Spotify playlist curation scene. The platform is dedicated to discovering and promoting promising up-and-coming artists, making it an excellent choice for independent musicians looking to expand their listener base. Rizing Playlists maintains a series of genre-specific playlists that have collectively amassed over 177,000 followers across 29 different playlists.
The curators at Rizing Playlists cover a wide range of contemporary music styles, including Pop, Indie, Rave, Rap, and even Classical. This diversity allows artists from various genres to find suitable playlists for their music. Rizing Playlists is known for its frequent updates, ensuring that their playlists remain fresh and engaging for listeners. Artists interested in being considered for inclusion can submit their music through an online submission form on the Rizing Playlists website. The platform’s commitment to showcasing emerging talent has made it a valuable resource for both artists seeking exposure and listeners looking to discover new music.
