[FAQ]

Hello,

I am trying to create a more focused promotion strategy for my music on Spotify. I constantly hear about the importance of getting on playlists, but I see three distinct types mentioned: algorithmic, editorial, and listener-created.

I do not have a clear understanding of how they each function. For example, is an algorithmic playlist like ‘Discover Weekly’ 100% machine-driven, or is there some human oversight? Regarding editorial playlists, are they the only ones that can lead to significant growth? And what is the true value of being added to a popular playlist created by a regular user—can it influence the others?

It would be very helpful to understand the mechanics and strategic value of each type so I can better direct my efforts.

[Jeff Bullas]

Understanding this ecosystem is key to a smart release strategy.

Short Answer: Algorithmic playlists are driven by data about your audio and listener behaviour, editorial playlists are curated by Spotify’s human experts, and listener playlists are created by the user base.

Let’s look at how each of these three systems evaluates your audio content.

The three main types function very differently. First, algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly are fully automated systems that analyse your audio file’s characteristics and match it to users based on their listening data; your primary influence here is driving listener engagement like saves and shares. Second, editorial playlists are the result of a human decision by Spotify’s internal team, which you can influence directly by submitting your track’s audio and text-based pitch through the Spotify for Artists dashboard before its release. Third, listener playlists are created by fans and independent curators, and getting your music placed on these often requires direct outreach and can serve as a powerful signal to both the algorithmic and editorial systems.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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