An approval means a curator's said "yes, I want to share this." What happens next depends on the type of curator and how they're set up.
Spotify playlisters: usually instant
Most Spotify playlisters have connected their account to SubmitHub via the Spotify API. When they approve, the song lands on their playlist on the spot and you get a "shared" notification within seconds.
Not every playlister connects, though. The ones who don't have to add the song to their playlist manually and then mark it as shared on SubmitHub. That can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. So if 9 out of 10 of your approvals share automatically and one is still sitting in "unshared," nothing's broken; it's just that this curator does it manually.
Blogs, YouTube, radio, influencers: takes longer
A blog approving your song means they plan to write a post. That can take a few days, sometimes a week or two, depending on their schedule. Same goes for YouTube channels, radio shows, and influencers who need to plan a video, broadcast, or social post.
Every curator's typical turnaround time is shown on their profile, so you can get a sense of what to expect before you submit.
How you'll talk to them
When the approval lands, a chat (or email thread, if they prefer) opens up between you and the curator. Use it to confirm timing, answer questions about the song, or pass along any extra context. While you're waiting, make sure your artist profile is fleshed out: bio, social links, photos, anything they might want to use in their post.
Pre-release songs
If your song isn't out yet, curators will hold the share until the release date. A long gap between approval and share is normal for unreleased music.
If the wait drags on
If a curator's typical turnaround has passed and you still haven't seen a share, you can nudge them with a "Request an update." See the "An outlet approved my song, but isn't responding" article for how that works. Most of the time you won't need it; the share is just on its way.