Editorial and Algorithmic Playlist Scams
What You Need to Know
🧠 In the world of independent music, landing on an editorial or algorithmic playlist on Spotify can feel like a golden ticket. It’s no surprise that some companies prey on this desire, promising artists that they can get them placed on these coveted playlists for a fee. One major offender in this space is a company called Royal Music Marketing, based out of Pakistan. They approach artists via cold DMs, texts, or emails, claiming that they can guarantee placement on Spotify’s editorial or algorithmic playlists.
What’s the Truth?
Here’s the truth: no one can get you on an editorial or algorithmic playlist except Spotify itself. Any company that claims otherwise is scamming you.
How Editorial Playlists Actually Work
Editorial playlists on Spotify are curated by a small team of human editors. These playlists, such as RapCaviar or Today’s Top Hits, are incredibly powerful and can bring massive visibility to an artist. However, getting on one of these playlists is not something any external company can control.
When you release a song through a distributor (like DistroKid or TuneCore), you’ll see a notification in Spotify for Artists (desktop version only) letting you know that your song is eligible to be pitched to the editorial team—assuming your release date is set at least two weeks in the future.
The pitching process is simple:
- You select a few details about your track from a list of options.
- Then, in 500 characters or fewer, you write a pitch.
That’s it! You are now in the running for editorial consideration.
No one but Spotify’s editorial team can “put” you on these playlists.
Additionally, anyone who says they know exactly what Spotify’s editorial team is looking for is simply guessing. Spotify keeps this information under wraps, and no third-party company has insider knowledge.
How Algorithmic Playlists Work
📊 Algorithmic playlists, like Release Radar and Discover Weekly, are not manually curated by humans. They are powered by Spotify’s algorithm, which uses data and listener behavior to determine what tracks are recommended to different users.
Spotify’s algorithm aggregates listener data, tracks skips, saves, and likes, and uses that information to suggest new music to users via algorithmic playlists. There is no way for any third party to place you on these playlists. They can only be triggered by real, organic listener activity.
Some people talk about “tripping the algorithm,” but be cautious with this idea. While there are marketing strategies that can increase algorithmic performance, the reality is that there is no substitute for high-quality music marketed effectively and ethically over time. Bot-free audience data and real fan engagement are key.
For example, saves seem to play a significant role in how the algorithm pushes a new release on playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly. The more your track is saved, the more likely Spotify’s algorithm is to boost it.
But no company can make this happen for you—they can only market your music, which anyone can do if they understand platforms like Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram) and Google Ads (YouTube). The key difference is that a legitimate marketing company won’t make empty promises about guaranteeing playlist placement.
🕳️ Rabbit Hole:
Understand Meta Marketing (Fast)
Jump down this rabbit hole to get a crash course in Meta Marketing for Music. It will open in a new tab, so you won’t lose your place in this article.
Understanding the “Black Box” of Spotify’s Algorithm
🕳️ The term “black box” refers to a system whose workings are mysterious or opaque. Spotify’s algorithm is very much a black box. While we understand the broad strokes—such as the fact that it uses user behavior to recommend new music—no one knows exactly how it works, not even Spotify itself.
This is important to remember because any company that claims to know how to “hack” the algorithm is lying. They may have theories, but at the end of the day, the only sure way to perform well on algorithmic playlists is to maintain a clean, bot-free fanbase, run legitimate marketing campaigns, and release high-quality music consistently.
The Importance of Clean Listener Data
Your listener data is critical to how the Spotify algorithm works. If your songs are mostly streamed by bots or incentivized listeners, the algorithm will recognize this. It will group your songs with other bot-driven content, and you’ll end up being recommended to fake listeners or inactive accounts. This creates a vicious cycle—because bots don’t engage. They don’t save your songs, they don’t add them to playlists, and they don’t interact with your content in meaningful ways. As a result, Spotify will push your music to other bot-heavy accounts, ultimately harming your visibility and potential for growth.
So, avoid bot promotion services and incentivized playlists. The best way to help the algorithm do its job is to keep your listener data as pure as possible. Build a real fanbase through organic marketing and smart release strategies.
Algorithmic vs. Editorial Playlists
To summarize:
- Editorial playlists are curated by humans at Spotify. You can pitch directly to the editorial team through Spotify for Artists, but no one can guarantee placement.
- Algorithmic playlists are created based on user behavior and Spotify’s algorithm. Only real engagement with your music—saves, likes, and streams—will trigger algorithmic playlist placement.
The most common algorithmic playlists include:
- Release Radar: A playlist of new releases personalized for each listener, typically featuring songs they’ve saved or listened to in the past.
- Discover Weekly: After about two weeks, songs move from Release Radar to Discover Weekly, another personalized playlist designed to introduce users to new music based on their listening habits.
- Radio Playlists: These playlists are built around artists or tracks, offering a selection of music that the algorithm thinks is related to a specific artist. Pay attention to who appears in your Radio Playlist—it gives you an idea of which artists your music is being associated with in the algorithm.
Additionally, Spotify’s new AI-powered playlists, like the Mixes and DJ playlists, are algorithmically driven but rely even more on user data and engagement.
🕳️ Rabbit Hole:
Understand the Differences in Spotify Playlists
Jump down this rabbit hole to get a crash course in what the different types of Spotify Playlists are, how they work, and how to get on them. This rabbit hole will open in a new tab, so you won’t lose your place in this article.
How to Avoid This Scam
If a company promises that they can get you on an editorial or algorithmic playlist, you should walk away. Even if their strategy involves running ads or promoting your music, there’s nothing they can do that a legitimate marketing company (or you, yourself) couldn’t achieve through proper advertising channels.
And if they bury the lead—claiming they can place you on these playlists when really they’re just running ads—they’re being dishonest. You shouldn’t trust a company that uses misleading tactics to get you to part with your money.
Takeaway
✍🏻 No one but Spotify’s editorial team can put you on an editorial playlist, and no one but Spotify’s algorithm can place you on an algorithmic playlist. While certain marketing strategies may improve your chances of triggering the algorithm, there’s no guaranteed method to secure placement.
Stay clear of companies that make these claims. Focus on building your audience organically, keeping your data clean, and creating great music. Spotify’s algorithm will do the rest.
Stay in the loop,
– Music Scam Alert Staff
don’t get duped.
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