How tech house playlist pitching works
Playlists are one of the main ways new tech house tracks reach listeners on Spotify. This guide explains the routes most artists use, what curators listen for and how to prepare a pitch that gets a proper reply.
Three ways a track reaches a playlist
Editorial playlists run by Spotify, pitched through Spotify for Artists before the release.
Independent curators, who run their own playlists and may reply to a direct message.
Label playlists, such as the tech house and melodic techno playlists from Future Plan Sounds.
What curators listen for
A curator decides in the first bars whether a track fits the playlist. A clear intro, a steady groove and a mix that sounds finished at a normal volume give the track its best chance to keep playing.
Metadata matters too. Use the correct genre, a clear artist name and cover art that still looks sharp at a small size.
How to prepare a pitch
Finish and master the track before you pitch it
Write two or three honest sentences about the track: the style, the mood and the story behind it.
Send the pitch early, so the curator has time to listen and reply.
Check that the playlist already plays your style before you write to it.
No placement is guaranteed
No playlist can promise a placement, and a track that is not picked is not necessarily weak. Keep releasing, keep building relationships with curators and treat each playlist as one part of a longer plan.
A rejected pitch is not a verdict on the track. Keep releasing and keep learning.
Do I need a Spotify for Artists profile?
Editorial pitches go through Spotify for Artists, so set up your artist profile there before the release date.
Will I get a reply to my demo?
Replies can take time, so please be patient. Send your track through the form on our homepage.
Start with a track that is ready
A track that sounds finished in every room gives a curator fewer reasons to skip it. If your mix or master needs work, Future Plan Sounds offers online mixing and mastering for tech house. Send us your track and we will tell you what it needs.
Source: Future Plan Sounds playlists, https://www.futureplansounds.com/spotify-playlists/
