Like it or not, music consumers and the industry as whole are all neck deep in playlist culture by this point. The good news is, building playlists is a skill like any other, and skills can be honed. In this piece we look at some of the best practices for creating a killer Spotify playlist.
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Guest post by Edgel Groves of Repost
1. Be Original
When you have a new idea for a playlist, have a quick search on Spotify to see if it has already been covered. A great way to find good topics is to be reactive–everything in the news can be an inspiration for a playlist.
Target a ‘niche’ rather than ‘mainstream’ topic.
Once you’ve found a unique theme, collect a list of around 100 to 200 songs with a max of two songs by the same artist. Keep in mind it takes some time to craft a strong playlist around a good theme.
”[Mood playlists] are an incredible chance to do something different than the others, so another chance to be original. In my case, I have a lot of mood playlists. One of the reasons why they have a great number of followers is the fact that I mix genres, styles, music decades. I completely agree with curating short playlists with no more than one song by an artist. Great curators always meet this standard.”
2. Have A Strong Title
The playlist title has to match the theme or mood of your playlist. Titles to avoid are generic ones such as “The Best Playlist ever…”, “The Greatest X”, “The Best Party…”
These titles say nothing about the music the listener will find when they hit play. It’s better to be more specific such as “Indie Folk Sunday Morning”, “Rock Inspired By Metallica”, “ASMR For Bedtime”.
3. Update Your Playlists.
Update your playlists frequently to keep the music fresh. It’s a good idea to include your new additions at the top of the playlist as well. Most curators we spoke to agreed that songs should be added a few at a time–not renewing all songs at once. Of course this depends on the theme. If it’s the ‘Best Indie tracks of the last 30 days” then renewing them all once a month makes perfect sense.
To manage several playlists at one time, the best tool is www.SCplanner.net which is free if you distribute your music with Repost.
4. Promote Your Playlists
A great place to promote your curated playlist is the Spotify Community Playlist Exchange. It’s best if you include a description for your playlists so users know what theme/ mood inspired you. You can also try www.Soundplate.com which allows other artists to submit material directly to you to be considered for your playlist and are prompted to follow the playlist as well.
You can also create your own website or blog dedicated to promoting your playlists. Of course you can also promote it across social media channels such as Tumblr, Twitter, or Facebook. And remember, it takes work and time to create a fan base. Don’t be discouraged if it’s a slow start.
5. Follow Other Great Playlists
To gain followers you should also be a follower yourself. Seek out new bands, get to know playlists that have lots of followers, and study what it takes to be a curator.
“Constantly follow playlists like yours….Find what’s trending.”
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