SubmitHub is the most popular submission platform on the internet, and five minutes of Googling will turn up both positive and negative reviews. Sending your music to curators can be a difficult experience, and not everyone's going to get the "yes" answers they're looking for. With a little bit of insider knowledge, you'll be able to get the most out of SubmitHub and ensure you walk away without feeling let down.
Here's why we're different from other promo companies (and why that makes us legit):
Perhaps the most important "trick" to be successful on SubmitHub is to make sure that you're getting the right song to the right curator. This is why we put so much emphasis on genres, similar artists, and moods. Our matching algorithm is powered by tens of millions of data points, and you won't find a better formula anywhere else.
What makes SubmitHub difficult is that anyone can use it. On a day-to-day basis, you're "competing" against songs from not only indie artists, but also established artists and labels like Universal Music, Sony, Columbia, as well as thousands of industry-specific professionals.
This means that the song you're pitching has to be really good. While most artists consider their particular song to be "above average," the reality is that the majority of songs simply *cannot* be above average.
There are 120,000 new songs uploaded to Spotify every day. The odds of standing out as the top 1% (or even 10%) on any given day is no easy task. The reality is that not all artists get the results they're hoping for from SubmitHub. And that's where you often see the "scam" term being thrown out.
Rejection isn't easy. But it doesn't mean SubmitHub is a scam.
Do your research. We provide you with all the data, and you're putting your song, your work of art, out there. Take some time to check the curators' approval rates, their recent shares, their playlists, and their preferences to give that song your best. The data is all accessible right here on SubmitHub, so there's no need to go anywhere else. In our experience, those who thoroughly research the curators and target more precisely, as well as returning artists who've learned what worked for them in the past, tend to have significantly higher approval rates.
Fill in everything you can when uploading your song. From at least a short about (longer is better when you plan to submit to blogs), different links to the song (to Spotify, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, iTunes, and so on), music video (if there is one), lyrics – everything can help the curator understand and potentially like the song more.
Don't forget to include a well-crafted quick pitch. When you personalize your quick pitch, suggest a good fit for the curator, highlight something unique about the song, or express gratitude, you can tip the balance in your favor.
Learn from past submissions. Filter the curators who have approved your music in the past. If you're uncertain about the fit, avoid sending to those with very low approval rates—especially if you're not prepared for rejection or you're not a SubmitHub 'veteran' and know what you're doing.
Last but not least – actually, perhaps the most important point here is – make sure you're song is up to par, quality-wise. Even before releasing, compare the sound with one or more reference tracks you like. Iterate, ask for opinions (for example, in Hot or Not), and try to go for the best quality you can. And if you feel it's still not competitive enough, consider hiring a pro to help you out.
Probably the top scam on Spotify is when playlisters say they'll add your song to their playlist for $10 or $20. This often happens via Instagram DMs and direct emails.
This process may seem easy— simply pay the money and they'll place your song. However, you're more than likely exposing yourself to botted playlists, you're probably not getting engaged or even real listeners, you're violating Spotify's terms of service ("payola"), and you can harm your artist profile, Fans Also Like section, and even get banned from Spotify.
Another scam involves seemingly popular playlists adding your song, pumping up your plays, and then contacting you to see if you're willing to pay money to have your song in the playlist for a longer duration. A popular company involved in this practice is Wavr.ai, who have built a business around scamming artists with botted playlists. Similar known scam companies include artister.io, RepostNG.com and Craft Playlists.
Legitimate promotion websites don't say "yes" to everyone. They actually encourage proper curation, without extra fees if you get shared.
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We won't scam you on SubmitHub. You decide how much to spend and who to spend it on. You have all the numbers at your fingertips, and there are no guarantees of streams or placements, as some less reputable models often promise. We can guarantee real, vetted curators, access to unmatched data, and an ongoing effort to enhance SubmitHub.
If you still have questions about whether SubmitHub is legit, feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected]. Where else can you find direct contact with the coder and CEO? ;-)