[FAQ]

Hey,

I’m looking at the ‘Campaign’ tab in my artist’s Spotify for Artists dashboard and I keep seeing the option for ‘Discovery Mode’. I’ve read the official description, and it sounds like we can ‘prioritize’ our songs in Spotify’s algorithmic radio and autoplay features. This sounds great for reaching new listeners.

However, I’ve also heard there’s a catch—something about it involving a ‘promotional’ (i.e., lower) royalty rate for the streams it generates. Is that true? If so, I’m trying to weigh the strategic trade-off. Is the boost in exposure worth the lower payout per stream? Has anyone here used it and seen if it leads to long-term fans (like more followers or saves), or is it just a way to get empty, low-royalty plays?

Any experiences or insights would be really helpful.

[Jeff Bullas]

Good question about this tool.

Short Answer: Spotify Discovery Mode allows you to signal priority for selected audio tracks within specific algorithmic contexts like Radio and Autoplay, potentially increasing their reach. The trade-off is that Spotify applies a commission, effectively lowering the royalty rate paid out for streams generated within those specific contexts.

Let’s evaluate the strategic decision this presents for your audio content promotion.

Discovery Mode works by allowing you, via Spotify for Artists, to identify specific audio tracks that are priorities for discovery. Spotify’s algorithm then uses this signal to increase the likelihood, though not guarantee, that this audio content will be recommended to listeners in Radio sessions and Autoplay sequences. There is no upfront cost for using this feature. However, the critical strategic trade-off involves the text-based royalty data: Spotify charges a commission, reported to be around 30 percent, on the recording royalties generated only from streams that occur within these Discovery Mode contexts. All other streams of the audio, such as from direct profile visits or editorial playlists, remain commission-free. Therefore, you must decide whether the potential for increased algorithmic exposure for your audio content outweighs the reduced income from the text-based royalty data for those specific streams.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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