Playlists are one of the biggest drivers of streams and new fans. Getting added to the right playlist can multiply your audience overnight. Here's how playlisting works and how to improve your chances. ## The Three Types of Playlists ### 1. Editorial Playlists Curated by the streaming platform's own music team (e.g., Spotify's editorial team, Apple Music curators). These have the largest reach and are the most competitive. ### 2. Algorithmic Playlists Generated automatically based on listener behavior — like Spotify's Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and autoplay. Strong engagement (saves, repeats, low skips) helps you land here. ### 3. User & Independent Playlists Made by everyday listeners, bloggers, and curators. Easier to access and great for building early momentum. ## How to Pitch for Editorial Playlists - **Submit early** — Pitch your release to Spotify and Apple Music *before* release day. Submitting at least 7 days early signals priority to editors. - **Complete your profile** — A claimed Spotify for Artists profile, bio, and photos make you look professional. ORB can help you claim Spotify for Artists. - **Write a strong pitch** — Describe the genre, mood, story, and instruments. Editors actually read these. ## How to Trigger Algorithmic Playlists - Drive strong engagement in the first week (saves and shares matter more than raw plays). - Encourage fans to add the song to their own playlists and libraries. - Release consistently so the algorithm keeps recommending you. ## How to Land Independent Playlists - Build relationships with curators in your genre. - Use ORB's pre-save and smart links to make sharing easy. - Avoid paid 'guaranteed placement' services that use bots — they can get your music flagged or removed. ## Set Yourself Up for Success Distribute early with ORB Entertainment so your release is ready to pitch, claim your artist profiles, and build pre-save momentum. Start at orbentertainment.live/distribute.