Playlist Curator Outreach Recommendations

Following up with playlist curators is essential, but too much contact can damage relationships and get your accounts flagged as spam. This guide shows how often to reach out and how to stay present without being pushy.

Core Principle: Presence, Not Pressure

The goal is to build relationships over time, not secure immediate placements. Show curators you're a professional artist worth supporting long-term, not someone chasing a quick win.

Recommended Contact Frequency

Initial Pitch

Send one well-crafted message introducing your music. Whether via submission platform, email, or DM, make it concise and professional. Highlight one or two achievements and explain why your track fits their playlist.

Follow-Up Messages

If you don't hear back, follow this cadence:

• First follow-up: Wait 2-3 weeks after initial pitch

• Second follow-up: Wait another 2-3 weeks

• Third follow-up: Wait 3-4 weeks

• Maximum attempts: 5 follow-ups total, then stop cold outreach to that curator

Social Engagement Between Messages

Instead of repeatedly messaging, stay visible through light social engagement:

• Comment on their posts once a week (only if they've posted since your last comment)

• Share their playlist to your Instagram story and tag them

• Congratulate them publicly when their playlist hits follower milestones

This keeps you on their radar without direct pressure.

How to Follow Up Effectively

When you do follow up, avoid begging for placement. Instead, show appreciation and update them on your progress:

"Hey [Name], just wanted to thank you for all the support you've shown my brand. I sent another submission on SubmitHub — no pressure, no rush, no reply needed. Really appreciate you."

Or mention new achievements:

"Quick update: the track just hit 50K streams and got featured on [blog]. Still think it'd be a great fit for [Playlist Name] when you have space."

Red Flags: When to Stop

Immediately stop outreach if a curator:

• Asks for money upfront (this violates Spotify policy and often indicates botted playlists)

• Explicitly asks you to stop contacting them

• Hasn't responded after 5 attempts over several months

What Actually Works

Instead of aggressive follow-ups, invest in these relationship-building tactics:

• Build a target list: Focus on 20-30 laser-targeted curators whose playlists genuinely match your sound, rather than blasting 200 random contacts

• Offer value: If you run playlists or have a newsletter, mention ways you can support their work in return

• Use submission platforms: Many curators prefer organized submissions over cold emails. If cold outreach fails after 5 attempts, try reaching them on platforms like SubmitHub or SubmitLink instead

• Focus on new releases: Curators are more likely to respond to fresh tracks. Each new release gives you a legitimate reason to re-engage

Platform-Specific Notes

Submission Platforms (SubmitHub, SubmitLink)

These platforms have built-in rate limits, so over-messaging isn't usually an issue. You can submit multiple tracks to the same curator over time as long as each is a new release.

Email Outreach

Email services may flag your account if you send too many messages to non-responsive recipients. Keep your total cold outreach volume reasonable (under 50 new contacts per week).

Instagram DMs

Instagram may limit your ability to send DMs if you message too many people who don't follow you back. Avoid sending more than 20-30 cold DMs per day.