Including your music on Spotify’s algorithmic playlists is an important step for any independent artist looking to reach a larger audience and gain more streams on the platform. Algorithmic playlists are created by Spotify’s AI algorithms based on a user’s listening history and preferences, and they play a significant role in how users discover new music. By getting your music included on these playlists, you have the opportunity to be heard by a wider audience and potentially attract new fans. Additionally, being included on these playlists can help to increase your overall stream count, which can lead to better visibility and more opportunities for your music. Overall, having your music included on Spotify’s algorithmic playlists is a key factor in building a successful career as a musician on the platform.
What is a Spotify algorithmic playlist?
Algorithmic playlists are unique playlists generated by Spotify’s algorithms based on the listening habits and preferences of individual users; they will be different for each user, depending on these criteria. .
What are some examples of Spotify algorithmic playlists?
These playlists include ones like Daily Mix, Discover Weekly, and Release Radar, which are personalized for each user based on their listening history, or tracks, artists, and playlists that you have “liked” or already follow
What is the difference between Spotify algorithmic and editorial playlists?
Editorial playlists, on the other hand, are created and curated by Spotify’s editorial team or external curators. These playlists are organized around specific themes or genres, and the tracks included are chosen by the playlist curators rather than algorithms. Examples of editorial playlists on Spotify include ones like New Music Friday, RapCaviar, and Peaceful Piano.
In general, it can be more challenging to get your music included on editorial playlists, as they are typically curated by a select group of individuals. However, these playlists tend to have a larger following as they are regularly promoted by Spotify, and thus, can provide more visibility for your music. Algorithmic playlists, on the other hand, are more easily influenced by your listeners’ listening habits, so if you can get a significant number of people to regularly stream your tracks, you may have a better chance of getting included on these playlists.
Do you already need listeners to be included on Spotify’s algorithmic playlists?
Having listeners already engaged with your music can certainly increase your chances of getting included on algorithmic playlists on Spotify. Because these playlists are generated based on the listening habits of individual users, it may increase the likelihood of your music being added to them.
However, it is also possible for a track to be included on an algorithmic playlist even if it has fewer listeners. If a track is popular among a small group of listeners or is receiving a lot of streams within a short period of time, it may be included on one of these playlists. The more plays a track has in a smaller amount of time, or its “velocity,” the more likely it is that Spotify’s algorithm will see that rate of growth, and the more likely it is to be included on algorithmic playlists.
So, while having engaged listeners can certainly help, it is not necessarily a requirement for getting your music on algorithmic playlists on Spotify.
How does a track’s “velocity” impact its chances of being included on algorithmic playlists?
On Spotify, a track’s “velocity” refers to the rate at which it is gaining plays–essentially its popularity, whether short-term or long-term. In general, tracks with a higher velocity are more likely to be included on algorithmic playlists. This is because tracks with a high velocity are considered to be popular and are more likely to be of interest to listeners. When a track has a high velocity, it is likely to be gaining streams rapidly, which can signal to Spotify’s algorithms that it is a popular track that should be included on algorithmic playlists.
There are several factors that can contribute to a track’s velocity. One factor is the overall number of streams a track has. In general, tracks with a higher number of streams will have a higher velocity, as they are more likely to be popular among listeners. Another factor is the rate at which a track is gaining streams. If a track is gaining streams rapidly over a short period of time, it is likely to have a higher velocity compared to a track that is gaining streams at a slower pace.
A track’s velocity is an important factor for getting included on algorithmic playlists on Spotify. By promoting your music and encouraging your listeners to stream your tracks regularly, you can increase your velocity, and improve your chances of being included on algorithmic playlists.
How can an artist increase the chances of getting their music included on Spotify algorithmic playlists?
There are a few ways that an artist can increase the chances of getting their music included on Spotify’s algorithmic playlists:
Optimize your metadata: Make sure that your track and artist name, as well as the artwork and other metadata, are all correctly filled out and free of errors. This will help Spotify’s algorithms understand your music, and its intended audiences, better.
Get more streams: Spotify’s algorithms take into account how many people are listening to your music, so the more streams you have, the more likely your tracks are to be included on playlists. Promote your music outside of Spotify to help increase its organic growth.
Build a fanbase: Spotify also looks at how engaged your fanbase is. If people are regularly saving your tracks and adding them to their own playlists, the algorithms will take notice.
Grow your Artist profile: Make sure your artist profile is complete, make regular updates to your biography, image etc on the platform.
Get into the Discover Weekly and Release Radar: Having your music in these playlists that are personalized for users can help boost your exposure and give a better chance for you getting into more general or themed playlists
Network: Reach out to playlist curators, bloggers and influencers in your genre and build relationships with them. They may be able to help you get more exposure and potentially get your music added to playlists.
Use Spotify for Artists: Spotify for Artists provides you with a dashboard that shows you detailed analytics of your tracks, including how many plays and saves they’ve received.
It’s worth noting that getting your music on Spotify’s algorithmic playlists is not easy, and there is no guaranteed way to do it. But by following these tips and continuing to make great music, you can improve your chances of being discovered by Spotify’s algorithms and eventually reaching a larger audience.
