What’s the difference between Spotify editorial, algorithmic, and user playlists?

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dLKkyJWRjsNafzYEj6l9E

 Quick Breakdown

Playlist Type

Curated By

Key Examples

Editorial

Spotify’s human editors

New Music Friday, RapCaviar, Fresh Finds

Algorithmic

Spotify’s AI + user behavior

Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Radio

User-Curated

Individual users or brands

Mood playlists, influencers, tastemakers



 1. Editorial Playlists

What they are:

  • Curated by Spotify’s in-house editorial team
  • Focused on genre, region, and theme
  • Updated regularly (weekly or monthly)

How to get in:

  • Pitch via Spotify for Artists at least 7 days in advance
  • Editors look at:
    • Stream growth
    • Save rate
    • Storytelling in the pitch
    • Your artist brand and presence

Why they matter:

  • Huge follower counts = thousands to millions of instant plays
  • Boosts credibility & discoverability


 2. Algorithmic Playlists

What they are:

  • Custom playlists made for each user by Spotify’s AI
  • Based on your behavior + your audience’s behavior

Key examples:

  • Discover Weekly (every Monday)
  • Release Radar (every Friday for your followers)
  • Radio (auto-plays after songs or artists)
  • Daily Mixes, On Repeat

How to get in:

  • Upload early and pitch to Release Radar
  • Drive strong engagement:
    • Saves
    • Streams per listener
    • Shares
    • Low skip rate

Why they matter:

  • No gatekeepers—data-driven
  • Everyone gets a shot
  • Long-term exposure if listeners keep engaging


 3. User-Curated Playlists

What they are:

  • Created by everyday Spotify users, influencers, or brands
  • Often genre/mood specific (e.g., “Indie Chill,” “Gym Bangers,” “Sad Vibes”)

How to get in:

  • Pitch directly via:
    • DMs
    • SubmitHub, Groover, PlaylistPush
    • Your own fanbase

Why they matter:

  • Smaller but highly loyal listener bases
  • Often lead to better saves/engagement than large lists
  • Helps build grassroots momentum


 Don’t Rely on Just One

  • Don’t only chase editorial and ignore algorithmic
  • Don’t buy fake placements—Spotify tracks suspicious activity
  • Don’t overlook small user lists—they often convert better


 Pro Tip

Use editorial as the spark, algorithmic as the engine, and user playlists as the fuel. Together, they build a sustainable stream strategy.

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