Distributors
Playlist pitching for distributors
Playlist placements drive streams, and streams are the metric your artists care about most. By helping your roster pitch curators through Promoly, you're directly influencing the thing that determines whether a release succeeds or fades into noise.
Why playlist pitching matters for distributors
As a distributor, your business grows when your artists' streams grow. More streams mean more revenue, longer retention, and better word-of-mouth referrals. Playlist placements are one of the most reliable ways to drive streams for new releases. The challenge is that most independent artists don't know how to pitch curators. They submit through Spotify for Artists and stop there. By offering playlist pitching support through Promoly, you help them reach independent curators who control thousands of genre-specific playlists outside the editorial system. This service layer is what separates a commodity distributor from a valuable partner.
Building a curator network for your roster
As a distributor with many artists across genres, you can build a curator network that's larger than any single artist could manage alone. Assign someone on your team to research curators across the genres your roster covers. Add them to Promoly with detailed tags: platform, genre, playlist size, and responsiveness. This shared curator list becomes a roster-wide asset. When any artist releases a new track, you can quickly identify relevant curators and send a targeted pitch. Over time, as curators add more of your roster's music, you build relationships that benefit every artist you distribute. A curator who trusts your taste and consistently receives good pitches from your roster will start paying attention whenever you send something new.
Tracking and reporting playlist results
Promoly tells you who opened your pitch, who listened, and for how long. But the real payoff is tracking actual playlist additions and their impact on streams. For each artist, log playlist placements alongside their streaming data from your distribution dashboard. Over several releases, you'll see clear correlations between playlist placements and streaming growth. This data serves two purposes. For individual artists, it proves the value of the promotion service. For your business, it proves the value of investing in playlist outreach. "Artists who use our playlist pitching service average 40% more first-month streams" is a powerful selling point.
Playlist Pitching checklist for distributors
Build a cross-genre curator list
Research curators across all genres your roster covers. Tag by platform, genre, and playlist size.
Create pitch templates by genre
Write reusable templates for each major genre so pitching is fast for any release.
Set up artist sender profiles
Pitches go out under the artist's brand for a professional impression.
Upload releases with full metadata
Include genre, BPM, key, and release date. Curators use this info when considering additions.
Send three to four weeks before release
Give curators enough time to listen and schedule additions.
Track curator engagement
See who played the tracks in Promoly. Follow up with engaged curators.
Log every playlist placement
Record playlist name, platform, followers, and date added.
Correlate placements with streaming data
Use your distribution data to measure the streaming impact of each placement.
Report results to artists
Show them the placements and the streaming lift they produced.
Quick tips
Prioritise curators who've added your roster before
Warm curator relationships convert better than cold pitches. Pitch your most responsive curators first for every new release.
Don't pitch every release to every curator
Match the music to the playlist. A poorly targeted pitch damages your credibility with the curator for future sends.
Offer playlist pitching as a premium add-on
If you can't offer it to every artist, make it a paid service tier. Artists who see the streaming results will gladly pay.
Frequently asked questions
Can distributors pitch playlists on behalf of their artists?
Yes. Set up sender profiles in Promoly for each artist and send pitches under their brand. Curators see the artist, not the distributor.
How do I pitch Spotify editorial playlists?
Spotify editorial submissions go through Spotify for Artists. Promoly is for pitching independent and third-party curators who accept email submissions.
How many curators should I have in my network?
Aim for 50 to 100 active curators across the genres your roster covers. Quality and relevance matter more than total numbers.
What if a curator asks for payment?
Decline. Paid placements violate platform terms and generate low-quality streams. Focus on merit-based additions.
Add playlist pitching to your distribution services
7-day free trial. No credit card. Set up in seconds.
Start free trial