The short answer
Pitch yourself if you have the hours to research playlists and write each message, and want to build direct relationships with curators. Use a service if your time is short, or you would rather not guess which playlists fit. Many artists do both: a service for the first release, their own outreach once they know what works.
The three routes at a glance
There are three common ways to reach independent playlist curators. They differ in who does the work, what you pay for and what you control.
| Aspect | Do it yourself with a tool | Submission platform | Campaign service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You: search, pick, write, send | You choose curators and write a pitch inside the platform | You compose a campaign, the service delivers it |
| You pay for | Access to contact data | Credits per submission | Credits, spent per campaign |
| Time needed | High | Medium | Low |
| Relationship with curators | Direct, yours to keep | Through the platform | Through the service |
| Examples | PlaylistSupply, artist.tools, PlaylistLookup | SubmitHub, Groover, Musosoup | Tunebump |
Checked on 26 October 2026. Prices and features change, so open each provider's own page before you buy.
Pitch yourself if
- You have a few hours per release for research and writing.
- You want to keep the relationship with a curator, not only one placement.
- Your music fits a narrow genre where a handful of playlists matter more than a broad campaign.
Use a service if
- You do not have the time to vet playlists one by one.
- You are unsure which playlists fit your track.
- You want a clear outcome per curator, such as a response, without chasing it yourself.
Tools for the do-it-yourself route
These tools give you curator contact details and let you do the outreach yourself. They differ in data, price and extras, so compare them on the things you will use. Listed by starting price, lowest first.
PlaylistLookup
A searchable directory of more than 390,000 Spotify playlists, about 95,000 of which list a contact channel: an email, social profiles or a direct submission link. Every plan, including the free one, comes with a playlist health check, and you can send pitches from your own Gmail and track each playlist's status in your own lists. The free plan includes 2 searches a week, and paid plans start at $6.95 a month. Checked on 26 October 2026.
artist.tools
Lists curator emails and social handles. The Artist plan, $8.25 a month or $99 billed yearly, also includes bot detection alerts and a Spotify editorial pitch generator. A free plan exists, but its pricing page does not make clear whether contact reveals are included. Checked on 26 October 2026.
PlaylistSupply
Searches Spotify and YouTube playlists in real time, and its PlaylistVet score checks a playlist's featured artists against their Discovered On sections. It also has a contact finder and a one-click pitch. The paid plan is $19.99 a month; no free tier of the main tool is listed. Checked on 26 October 2026.
How to judge any service before you pay
- Does it promise streams or placements? No honest service can guarantee either.
- Does it show which curators or playlists receive your track?
- Can you check the playlists yourself for real listeners?
- What happens if a curator does not respond?
- Are prices and terms dated and easy to find?
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to pitch curators myself?
It depends on your time and budget. Pitching yourself costs less money and keeps the relationship with the curator, but takes hours per release. A service costs more and saves that time.
Can I guarantee a placement by paying?
No. Spotify says that pitching its editors does not guarantee placement, and no honest service can promise that an independent curator will add your track. Be wary of anyone who sells guaranteed streams: Spotify says artificial streaming can lead to withheld royalties and removed content.
Can I use a tool and a service together?
Yes. A common approach is to use a service for a first release to see which playlists respond, then contact the best-fitting curators yourself on the next one.
Sources: Spotify for Artists: pitching music to playlist editors; the pricing pages of PlaylistSupply, artist.tools and PlaylistLookup, all checked on 26 October 2026.