Stop doing playlist promotion unless you do these three things

Many artists and managers believe that playlist placement is the ultimate key to success in music promotion. After all, seeing your song hit 100,000 streams from a playlist feels like a huge win. But the reality? It’s often not as impactful as it seems.

Why playlist placement alone isn’t enough

Even if you’re thrilled with the numbers, there’s a major issue lurking in the background.

Within 28 days of leaving a playlist, 15-30% of your monthly listeners can drop off.

This happens because Spotify’s algorithm works against you. Why? Even if the playlist is legitimate, if listeners don’t save your song to their library or don’t listen to it all the way through, Spotify sees this as a signal: your song isn’t engaging enough!

The hidden costs of big playlists

Large playlists might look appealing because of their follower count, but many of these followers are bots or inactive users. These playlists often have hours of music, meaning your song might get lost in the shuffle. Even if the streams are real, they’re unlikely to translate into long-term fan engagement or algorithmic growth.

How to maintain a stable monthly listener base: Succesful artists do this!

Artists who successfully sustain their monthly listeners don’t rely on massive playlists alone. Instead, they follow these three critical strategies:

1. Target smaller, niche playlists

• Focus on micro and mid-sized playlists that align with your genre and have stable, engaged followers.
• Avoid large playlists with inflated follower counts or suspicious engagement patterns.

2. Leverage retargeting ADS from Instagram

• Use retargeting ads to direct people who already engage with your content (like posts, stories, or reels) to a playlist that includes your music.
• This ensures you’re driving actual human listeners who are already interested in your sound, improving your engagement metrics.

3. Stack your budget around your release schedule

• The first week after your song is released is the most critical period for Spotify’s algorithm.
• 70% of your ad budget should be spent within the first five days of your song’s release. This helps Spotify gather the necessary data to push your song algorithmically into playlists like Discover Weekly and Spotify Radio.

It’s not about fake playlists, it’s about REAL DATA

The secret to success on Spotify isn’t about landing on big playlists with large numbers. It’s about providing Spotify with real, actionable data that shows your song resonates with listeners. This gives Spotify a reason to promote your music to actual human audiences through its algorithmic playlists.

This phase is where the Spotify promotion begin and where you get real streams and audience!

How to develop the Spotify algorithm in your favor

Stop chasing inflated stream counts and start focusing on building an authentic audience. By targeting niche playlists, using retargeting ads, and prioritizing your ad spend around your release schedule, you’ll not only grow your listener base but also set your music up for long-term success. Give Spotify the data it needs, and it will reward you by connecting your music with the right listeners.

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