Spotify for Artists: The Tools Worth Using for Every Release

Spotify for Artists is free, and most of its tools take a few minutes per release. Used together, they make your profile look active, help listeners find your newest music and give you data to plan the next release. Here is what each tool does and when to use it.

Pitch every unreleased song

Pitch one song from each upcoming release to Spotify's editors, ideally two to four weeks before release and at least seven days before. Even without an editorial placement, a song pitched in time becomes eligible for your followers' Release Radar. See how to pitch to Spotify editors.

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Canvas is a short, looping vertical video that plays behind a track in the mobile app. It replaces the static cover while the song plays and gives listeners a reason to stay, share or save. Use a 3 to 8 second vertical loop without text, logos or fast cuts that would distract. Footage from your music video, a slow camera move or an animated version of your cover all work well.

Clips

Clips are short vertical videos shown on your profile and on tracks. Use them to talk directly to listeners: why you wrote a song, a thank you, a short live take.

Countdown Pages

Countdown Pages let fans pre-save an upcoming album or EP, preview content and see the release date. They are not available for singles, and your profile must pass Spotify's monthly-listener minimum, so check your eligibility in Spotify for Artists and deliver the project early.

Artist Pick and profile

• Artist Pick: pin a song, playlist or event to the top of your profile. Change it with every release.
• Profile images and bio: keep them current and consistent with your other platforms.
• Your own playlists: a playlist of your songs and songs that influenced you can bring listeners from similar artists.

Statistics worth checking

• Source of streams: whether listeners come from your profile, their own playlists, editorial or algorithmic playlists.
• Saves and listener-to-stream ratio: more streams per listener means people repeat the song.
• Location: where your audience is, useful for shows and ads.
• Playlists: who added your songs, including independent curators you can thank.

See how Spotify's algorithmic playlists work for what these signals mean.

Paid and promotional options

Spotify also offers paid campaigns in its Campaign Kit, such as Marquee and Showcase, which recommend your releases to listeners, and Discovery Mode, where you accept a lower royalty rate on certain streams in exchange for more recommendations. Discovery Mode requires a participating distributor, and eligibility for all of them varies by market. Consider them only when you understand the cost per listener and have songs that already keep listeners.

A release-week routine

1. Pitch the focus track as soon as the release appears.
2. Upload a Canvas for every track.
3. Set the new song as Artist Pick on release day.
4. Post a Clip in release week.
5. Two weeks later, check sources and saves and note what to change next time.

Spotify for Artists only shows releases it has received. Submit your release with SpaceMedia early so every tool is available before release day.