Creating and promoting your own playlists can be a powerful music marketing strategy to expand your reach and engage with potential fans.

At WallStream, we noticed that many curators are also artists, and it doesn’t come as a surprise. Curating playlists is something that comes naturally to artists—they already have the passion for music, the inspiration to discover new sounds, and the ability to connect with other artists. It's an extension of their skill set that allows them to enjoy the process while building a great source for fans, streams, and even another revenue stream.

Why Owning Your Playlist

Imagine having a playlist with engaged listeners who connect with your taste and eagerly await new songs. Every time you release a track, you have an immediate audience ready to stream your music, which boosts your visibility in platform algorithms. Building your own playlist allows you to:

• Gain consistent streams from an audience genuinely interested in your genre. When listeners follow your playlists, they're more likely to engage with your music regularly, creating a sustainable stream of plays.

• Teach the algorithms what you sound like and who to recommend your music to. By curating similar artists and styles, you help streaming platforms understand your musical context and reach the right audience.

• Monetize your playlist through various platforms and partnerships. As your following grows, opportunities for revenue generation multiply through submission fees, brand partnerships, cross-promotion and Single Track Deals.

• Strengthen your artist brand by curating music that aligns with your style. Your playlist becomes an extension of your artistic identity, helping fans understand your influences and musical vision.

Steps to Creating a Successful Playlist

1. Choose a Niche Genre:

   • Focus on a specific genre or mood that resonates with your music style.

   • Avoid broad categories; instead, opt for well-defined niches such as 'Lo-Fi Beats for Focus' or 'Energetic Pop Workout Hits'

   • Playlists can be themed around subjects such as breakups, road trips, or specific moods, making it easier to connect with listeners.

   • Think about what users are searching for that matches your music and create playlists accordingly.

   • Consider creating multiple playlists that cater to different aspects of your music to better reach and engage a wider audience.

2. Curate a Balanced Playlist:

   • Include 50-100 tracks per playlist, featuring a mix of your songs and other artists' music.

   • Start strong with 2-3 well-known tracks to immediately engage listeners.

   • Introduce your music early, placing one of your tracks within the first 5-7 songs when listeners are most attentive.

   • Group songs in mini-sets of 2-4 tracks each, mixing known hits with lesser-known songs.

   • Gradually build energy throughout the playlist, placing more energetic tracks towards the middle and end.

   • Intersperse your own tracks evenly throughout the playlist, aiming for 2-4 of your songs in a 20-35 track playlist.

   • Use well-known artists' tracks before and after your own to maintain engagement.

   • Save riskier or lesser-known tracks for later in the playlist when listeners are more invested.

   • Ensure smooth transitions by using familiar songs or tracks with iconic intros when shifting genres or moods.

   • End memorably with a strong, recognizable track to leave a lasting impression.

   • Regularly update your playlist by adding fresh tracks and removing outdated ones.

3. Title Optimization:

   • Use relevant keywords: Include genre, mood, or theme-related words that potential listeners might search for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or YouTube's search bar suggestions to find popular terms.

   • Be concise and memorable: Aim for titles that are easy to remember and align with user searches.

   • Start with key terms: Place crucial terms at the beginning of your title.

   • Avoid vague titles: Instead of "Music Mix," use "Fresh Pop Vibes: Your Daily Dose of Hits"

   • Incorporate branding: Maintain consistency with your channel or artist brand.

   • Update regularly: Refine titles based on performance metrics and listener feedback

4. Cover Art Matters

Your playlist cover art is the first thing potential listeners will see, and it plays a significant role in attracting them to your playlist. A visually appealing cover can make your playlist stand out and appear more professional.

• • Choose Eye-Catching Imagery: Use high-quality, relevant images that reflect the theme and mood of your playlist.

  • Stay On-Brand: Ensure the color scheme and design align with your artist branding for consistency.

  • Keep it Simple: Avoid cluttered visuals; opt for clean and readable typography.

  • Use Playlist Title Wisely: Include your playlist name subtly within the artwork to reinforce branding.

  • Test Different Designs: Monitor which cover styles perform best and optimize accordingly.
    
    

5. Description Optimization:

• • Provide detailed information: Include genre, artists, and themes featured in the playlist.

  • Use keywords naturally: Incorporate relevant terms throughout the description.

  • Tell a story: Describe the inspiration or mood of the playlist to engage listeners.

  • Include a call-to-action: Encourage listeners to follow the playlist or check out featured artists.

  • Optimize for mobile: Keep descriptions concise and easily readable on smaller screens

6. Promoting Your Playlist: Promoting your playlist effectively is crucial to gaining traction

• • Share your playlist on social media, music forums, and artist communities to engage potential fans.

  • Encourage your audience to follow and share your playlist, leveraging word-of-mouth to expand your reach organically.

  • Add your playlist to the 'Artist Playlists' section in Spotify for Artists to showcase it directly on your artist profile and attract more listeners.

  • Run targeted ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to attract listeners.

What Not to Do When Creating Playlists

While building your playlist, it's important to avoid practices that can harm your reputation and credibility:

• Avoid Using Bots: Artificially inflating playlist followers and streams with bots won't help you gain real fans, and it will eventually be detected and removed, potentially leading to an account ban.

• Don't Offer Paid Placements: Selling playlist spots for money can violate platform guidelines and damage your credibility as a curator.

• Avoid Irrelevant Tracks: Adding tracks that don’t fit your playlist theme can frustrate listeners and increase skip rates.

• Don't Neglect Regular Updates: Failing to update your playlist with fresh and relevant content can cause listener drop-off.

• Stay Transparent: Misleading listeners with clickbait titles or false promises can result in negative feedback and lower engagement.

Monetizing Your Playlist

Once your playlist gains traction, you can monetize it through several methods:

• Playlist Submission Platforms: Sign up for services like SubmitHub, Playlist Push, and Groover, where artists pay to have their music reviewed for potential inclusion.

• Sponsorships and Brand Deals: As your playlist grows, brands may be interested in sponsoring your playlist for exposure.

• Affiliate Marketing: Add links to merchandise, tickets, or streaming services within your playlist description.

• Use WallStream to Close Deals: Leverage your playlist to negotiate Single Track Deals with artists, turning your playlist into a revenue-generating portfolio by offering exposure to their tracks and collaborating on promotional efforts.

Key Takeaways

• Start by creating well-curated playlists with a mix of your tracks and other popular music.

• Consistently promote your playlists via ads and social media.

• Utilize platforms like WallStream to connect with artists and generate revenue.

• Regularly update your playlists to keep them fresh and engaging.

By investing time and effort into your playlists, you can transform them into powerful promotional tools that drive streams, build your brand, and create additional income streams.