How to choose the right music genre for Spotify, Apple Music & Other DSPs and how platforms like Matchfy can help

If you’re an artist looking to get your music heard on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, or other DSPs (digital streaming platforms), understanding music genre metadata is absolutely essential. The genre you pick does more than label your song, it’s a clue to algorithms, playlist curators, and listeners about where your track “belongs.” Make the right choice, and your song could reach the perfect audience. Get it wrong, and it might get lost in the noise.

In this guide, we’ll dive into what a music genre is, how DSPs use genre metadata, the nuances of main genres, subgenres, and hybrids, and what to do if your style doesn’t exactly match an existing genre. I’ll also show you how platforms like Matchfy can help with distribution and promotion, especially in matching your track to playlists that suit your sound.

What does “genre” really mean and why it matters

A music genre is more than a label. It encapsulates elements like instrumentation, tempo, mood, arrangement, cultural roots, and listener expectations. When you upload a track via a distributor, you’ll often be asked to pick a genre (and sometimes a subgenre). That choice becomes part of the metadata attached to your release.

Why is that important? Because streaming platforms rely heavily on metadata to help surface tracks to appropriate audiences. The genre tag is one of the signals used by algorithms to group similar songs, recommend tracks, and decide what fits where. It’s also used by human curators who compile editorial playlists.

Suppose your track is “Indie Electronic” If you label it “Pop,” it might be recommended to the wrong listeners. But if you choose “Electronic” or “Indie Pop,” the DSP can more easily route your music into relevant playlists or into recommendation chains next to similar artists.

In short, the genre field is a small but powerful lever for visibility.

How DSPs use genre metadata

When you submit your music, the genre you select becomes part of the broader metadata framework, along with things like artist name, composer credits, release date, ISRC, and more.

Here’s how DSPs typically use that genre data:

• Algorithmic recommendations: your genre helps the system connect your track to similar songs. So listeners who explore artists like yours may see your track next.
• Editorial playlists: curators often filter by genre or subgenre when selecting tracks for playlists.
• Genre charts & sections: many DSPs organize “Top Pop,” “Best of Hip-Hop,” or “New Electronic Releases” by genre.
• Search & discovery: users sometimes browse by genre or mood, so being categorized correctly boosts your chances of being discovered in genre-based browsing.

That means your genre choice influences both machine-driven and human-driven paths to listeners.

Don't you know the difference between different kinds of playlists? Don't worry, you can discover the difference between algorithmic and editorial playlists and so much more by reading the full article on our blog!

Main genres, subgenres & genre-blending

Most DSPs structure their genre system as a mix of broad main genres and narrower subgenres. The common main categories include:

• Pop
• Rock
• Hip-Hop / Rap
• Electronic
• R&B / Soul
• Country
• Jazz
• Classical
• Folk
• Latin

Inside those, you'll find subgenres and more specific styles (for instance, House, Techno, Trap, Lo-Fi, Indie Rock, etc.). In recent years, platforms have also begun using mood or activity tags (e.g. Chill, Workout, Focus) to refine discovery.

But real creative music often mixes styles. Maybe your song blends jazz chords, electronic drums, and a rap flow. In such cases, you’ll need to pick the genre that feels most representative from the listener’s perspective, and describe additional influences elsewhere (in your bio, track description, or press notes).

What if your exact genre isn’t available?

This happens more often than you might think. The world of microgenres, region-specific fusions, and experimental styles evolves faster than some platforms can update their taxonomy. Here are common scenarios and strategies:

Microgenre or niche style

Styles like vaporwave, witch house, hyperpop, or experimental substyles might not appear in a DSP’s genre list. In that case, pick a broader category (like “Electronic” or “Pop”) that roughly fits, and then use your artist bio, track notes, or press materials to explain your precise sound.

Regional or cultural fusions

Your music may combine traditional or local sounds (e.g. African rhythms, folktronic blends, hybrid world music). If no specific label exists, use categories like “World,” “Folk,” or “Roots,” and add context about your regional influences in descriptions.

Genre-hybrid tracks

If your song genuinely spans genres, consider which element dominates: Is the beat most important? The instrumental texture? The songwriting style? Choose accordingly, and then mention the crossover influences elsewhere.

The key is to be intentional, don’t randomly pick a genre just to tick the box.

Pro tips for picking the right genre

Before you hit “release,” take a bit of time to strategize your metadata. Here’s a practical checklist:

• Benchmark similar artists
  Find artists whose sound you relate to, check which genres they are tagged under on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
• Consult with your distributor
  Many distributors have experience guiding artists in genre classification and might offer best-practice advice.
• Use additional metadata fields
  Beyond genre, detail your sound in the track description, artist biography, tags, and credits. Mention things like production style, mood, instrumentation, and reference artists.
• Monitor your analytics
  After release, pay attention to where your streams come from (which playlists, which listener demographics). If data suggests your audience leans toward a slightly different genre, you can adjust on future releases.
• Build your “scene”
  If you're part of a budding niche style, start curating your own playlists, collaborate with allied artists, and use consistent genre messaging. Over time, you may help the ecosystem recognize your style as its own subgenre.

Choosing a genre isn’t about limiting yourself, it’s about being discoverable by your ideal audience.

Where Matchfy comes in: distribution + playlist matching

Now that you understand genre metadata, it’s worth looking at how platforms like Matchfy integrate with this ecosystem. Matchfy is a music promotion and distribution platform designed to help artists connect with playlist curators and push their tracks to relevant audiences.

Here are a few ways Matchfy can be particularly useful in the context of genre and discovery:

Smart playlist matching

Matchfy uses algorithms to match your track with playlists that are a strong genre-fit. This can reduce time wasted submitting to irrelevant playlists.

Free distribution + royalty retention

For registered users, Matchfy offers music distribution at no upfront cost, allowing you to invest your budget in promotional efforts rather than fees.

VIP campaigns & promotional boosts

If you want extra push, Matchfy offers VIP features that help get your track more exposure across Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and more.

Integration with data & partnerships

Matchfy has partnerships (for example with Songstats) to support data-driven promotion and help you track performance.

Using a platform like Matchfy doesn’t replace the need for careful genre metadata, but it can complement it: once you categorize your track appropriately, Matchfy helps amplify its reach by placing it in playlists that align with your genre profile.

Putting it all together: genre + platform strategy

Let’s imagine you’ve completed a new track, and you’re preparing to release it. Here’s how you might integrate genre decisions and Matchfy into your plan:

• Decide your primary genre
  Based on listening tests, peer comparisons, and production style, choose the genre tag that most reflects your sound.
• Submit via your distributor / upload portal
  Fill in all relevant metadata: genre, subgenre (if available), artist bio, track description, influences, mood tags, etc.
• Use Matchfy for playlist promotion
  Once the track is live (or near release), submit it through Matchfy so its algorithm can match you with playlists that share your genre.
• Track performance & feedback
  Monitor your Spotify for Artists, Apple Music analytics, and Matchfy’s results. Look at which playlists accepted your track, which demographic is streaming, and whether a different genre alignment might yield better matches.
• Adjust going forward
  Based on results, refine your genre selection, playlist proposals, and promotional channels for future releases.

Conclusion

Genre metadata is more than a checkbox, it’s a powerful signal that guides how both humans and machines discover your music. Choosing deliberately and thoughtfully increases your chances of being heard by listeners who’ll enjoy what you create.

When your music doesn’t exactly match a predefined genre, select the best-fitting umbrella category and use your descriptions to clarify your unique sound. Supplement that with proactive promotion, for example via Matchfy, which helps bridge your music to aligned playlists and you’ve got a strategy for both classification and visibility.