Recent updates

Instead of using ads to promote a single song or your Spotify artist profile – which are often more expensive and harder to convert listeners – try creating a Spotify playlist that showcases your music. One popular strategy is to feature your tracks alongside well-known songs, hooking listeners with a theme or genre (think “Darkwave Drive” or “Sad Songs to Sleep To”). Or, you can create an artist playlist (like a This Is or radio-style playlist) featuring only your tracks (or mostly yours, with a few influences). This article will explore both approaches and explain why they can be more effective.

Why do playlists work better than single tracks or artist profile pages?

Promoting a playlist almost always delivers better results than pushing a single track or artist profile (which are usually expensive, and the converters leave rather quickly). With your own playlist, you:

• Highlight multiple tracks: Playlists let listeners discover more than one of your songs, increasing your chances of making an impression and giving you MUCH more value for that one CPC (cost per conversion).
• Build connections: Adding tracks from similar artists you like or were influenced by positions your music alongside theirs, helping you reach their fans and trigger the right algorithms.
• Become a curator: If your playlist gets popular, you could establish yourself as a curator and even join platforms like SubmitHub at one point.

How to create a playlist that works (and stands out)?

Here's a step-by-step process of building a playlist that not only promotes your music but also keeps listeners engaged:

1. Create a playlist on Spotify: Open Spotify and start a new playlist. Choose a title and description that will catch the attention of your target audience, whether it’s based on mood, genre, or activity. Avoid being too generic—names like 'Best Pop' are overused and no longer engaging. Instead, try something like 'Pop to Wash Your Hair To' or 'Driving Bops,' which are more likely to grab someone's attention and be easier to 'sell.'
2. Hook listeners with popular songs: Place 2-3 well-known tracks from big artists at the top of your playlist. These tracks will draw people in, provide a familiar reference, and encourage them to keep listening.
3. Add your songs smartly: Include 1-3 of your tracks between spots 3–10, mixing them with other recognizable songs. This helps your music stand out in a specific context while keeping the playlist familiar. You can also place more of your songs throughout the rest of the playlist.
4. Expand to 50 tracks: Keep adding tracks until you reach 50 (or at least 30 – and no more than 70). You can use Spotify’s suggestions or your own taste to ensure the playlist makes sense, flows well, and appeals to your audience. Try not to be random – keeping it consistent, like a 'lifestyle' playlist with actual bangers, will keep listeners engaged and coming back.

Plan B: A "This Is" style playlist with only your songs

Another approach is to create a playlist that’s all about… you. Think "This Is Eminem" or "Shakira Radio" – a playlist featuring only your tracks (or mostly yours, with a couple of influences, like a “Drake & Friends” vibe). The goal is to turn listeners into converts and get the most out of one click. By starting with your best or most recent track, you increase the chances they’ll keep listening and stream more of your songs.

Just make sure you:

• Start with your best/most likable or hooky track – use your most popular tracks to hook the listeners.
• Continue with songs that flow naturally – think about what would work best after the previous track.
• Don’t add songs that didn’t do well – even if you want to push them, listeners will leave if the track doesn’t grab them. Instead, focus on your most likable songs to keep the momentum going (or add your less popular songs towards the end if you must).

Promoting your playlist on SubmitHub

Once your playlist is ready, you can bring it to SubmitHub for promotion. A well-curated playlist can help you attract new listeners, increase your streams, and even position yourself as a trusted curator if you do it consistently and with love.