Spotify's algorithm recommends music based on user behavior, song performance, metadata, and more. While it uses data to suggest tracks, there are several ways you can influence it to get your music in front of more listeners. Here's how to optimize your presence, feed the algorithm for maximum exposure, improve your visibility, and attract new listeners.
Optimize Your Artist Profile
Claim/Verify and update your Spotify artist profile with a compelling bio, photos, and tour dates. Claiming your artist page and adding professional artist images/headers helps Spotify recognize you as a serious artist.
The first 24-48 Hours Matter
Spotify's algorithm, particularly Release Radar, favors tracks that perform well early. Encourage fans to stream, save, and share right after release. Tools like Spotify Codes and Pre-saves help drive early engagement, and using platforms like One Submit can help you reach playlisters fast.
Tools like Marquee or sharing Promo Cards on social media also help grow your audience by focusing on active listeners and those discovering your music for the first time.
Focus on Targeting Your Audience
Identify your most dedicated listeners—Super Listeners—and engage them with personalized campaigns.
Your Super Listeners are your most dedicated listeners from the past 28 days. You can consistently count on these biggest fans to engage with your music. Moderate Listeners may not be as engaged as your Super listeners. However, they've still intentionally streamed your music multiple times in the past 28 days, making them the easiest to convince to engage further with your music. Light listeners may not have engaged with your music as much as the other two groups, but there's still potential to get them more engaged over time. Check out this blog post for more information on identifying your target audience.
Curated & Algorithmic Playlisting
Pitch your tracks to Spotify's editorial team via Spotify for Artists, providing key details like genre and mood. Don't forget about user-generated playlists, which are also great for discovery. Symphonic clients can pitch directly through our SMS platform.
Features like Discovery Mode and Marquee help boost your visibility. Discovery Mode signals to the algorithm which tracks you want prioritized, while Marquee promotes new releases to active listeners.
Playlist pitching with Symphonic
Improve Save Rates and Regular Releases
Encourage fans to save your tracks to increase your "Save to Library" rate—an important algorithm factor. When users actively save your song to their playlists or libraries, it signals that your track has lasting appeal.
Listener Retention
High listener retention—when fans listen all the way through—signals to Spotify that your track is engaging and worth recommending. Low skip rates are key for algorithmic promotion.
Releasing consistently or strategically can help obtain a higher listener rate and fan engagement. Consider a waterfall release strategy for upcoming releases. Regular releases signal activity, keeping your music in Spotify's algorithmic loop.
Read more about feeding the Spotify algorithm on our blog.
Check out our best practices guide for marketing your release.
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