How far ahead to pitch a song to Spotify editorial playlists
Pitch your song to Spotify's editors in Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before the release date: that is the deadline for the song to reach your followers' Release Radar. Aim for 3 to 4 weeks ahead, so the editors have time to listen. You can only pitch once the release shows up under Upcoming in Spotify for Artists, so deliver it to your distributor about 4 weeks before release day.
You pitch one unreleased song per release. Once the release is out, you can no longer pitch it.
The timeline that works
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 5 to 6 weeks out | Finish the master, the artwork and the metadata. |
| About 4 weeks out | Deliver the release to your distributor with the release date set. |
| When it appears in Upcoming | Pitch your strongest song in Spotify for Artists. |
| 3 to 4 weeks out | The pitch is in. Announce the release and start your pre-save. |
| 7 days out | The last day to pitch and still reach your followers' Release Radar. |
| Release day | Share the song everywhere you told fans to expect it. |
| 1 to 2 weeks after | Check where streams came from: Release Radar, editorial, algorithmic or your own links. |
Distributors need time to deliver to Spotify, and some take longer than others. If you are late, deliver anyway and pitch as soon as the release appears: a pitch 7 days out still gets you on Release Radar.
What the pitch asks for
The pitch form in Spotify for Artists asks you to describe the song with tags (genre, mood, style, instruments) and to write a short description of it. Use the description for the facts an editor can't hear: the story behind the song, who is on it, and your plans for the release, such as a video, a tour or press coverage. Write it like a press line, not an ad.
Keep track of it
The pitch is one date in a release with many: distributor delivery, artwork, announcement, pre-save, release day, the first week after. Put each one on a calendar with a deadline and an owner, so nobody finds out on release day that the song was never pitched.
Plan it in Aden
In Aden, open a track and choose New plan on its Release plans tab. Aden asks a few questions, fills in what it already knows about the track, and writes a plan of milestones, to-dos and draft social posts, every date fitted into the time left before your release date. Add a "Pitch to Spotify editorial" milestone with its date, give it an owner, and subscribe to your team's calendar feed, so the deadline shows up in Apple Calendar, Google Calendar or Outlook. See release plans and create your Aden account to plan your next release.
FAQ
How many days before release should I pitch to Spotify?
At least 7 days, so the song reaches your followers' Release Radar. Three to four weeks is better: editors get more time to listen.
Can I pitch a song that is already released?
No. Spotify for Artists only lets you pitch unreleased music. Plan the pitch before the release date.
Can I pitch more than one song from an album?
No. You pick one song from each upcoming release to pitch.
Does pitching guarantee a playlist placement?
No. A pitch puts the song in front of Spotify's editors, who choose what goes on editorial playlists. Pitching at least 7 days ahead does get the song onto your followers' Release Radar.
Related: LUFS targets for Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, how to get an ISRC code and the best Notion alternatives for planning music releases.
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Agree the split in writing on the day you write, record each writer's share, PRO, IPI and publisher per song, and keep it where every co-writer can see it.
Give fans one reason to sign up, put the signup where they already find you, ask for clear consent, and keep the list somewhere you can export it.