When I first discovered Spotify, I thought it was just another music streaming platform. But as I started creating playlists for myself, I realized how much I loved curating them. It was like creating the perfect mixtape for a friend but on a much larger scale. I quickly found myself spending hours perfecting the overall sound - adding and removing songs, and making sure each track fit just right.
Before I knew it, I had over 50 playlists, ranging from monthly playlists to niche feelings. It wasn't until I noticed my "snowy mornings in a coffee shop somewhere" playlist was gaining traction that I began putting real intention behind curating playlists.
The playlist went from just a few friends to having around 500 saves in one winter season. Each winter since, it has doubled in popularity, and now it has just under 5,000 likes. It was surreal to see that people were not only listening to my playlist but also enjoying it enough to hit that little heart button.
**its enough to make me feel all warm and fuzzy**
Around this time, I began getting DMs from up-and-coming artists asking me to listen to their song and consider it for this playlist. This is when I saw the potential these "successful" playlists had - they can be seen as a launching point for new songs, a guaranteed new listener. I began wondering if there was an opportunity for side income but never thought much more about it because of Spotify's strict guidelines.
Fast forward to the fall semester of 2021, and I found myself scrolling on Pinterest and creating more playlists out of boredom. I began dabbling in posting my playlists on social media, seeing if I could grow others. After a few small successes, I began wondering again if there was a way I could monetize playlist curation. I finally decided it was worth a quick search, and sure enough, there is.
After a quick Google search, I discovered PlaylistPush, a platform where curators are paid to review new music and decide if it fits their playlist. This became a fun, direct way for me to listen to new songs for my playlist while generating a small side income. After applying, only one playlist got approved since they have strict guidelines and a vetting process.
In addition to PlaylistPush, I started to explore ways to promote my playlists and reach a wider audience. I knew that social media was a powerful tool for getting my playlists out there, so I began cross-promoting them on various platforms regularly.
On Instagram, I shared screenshots of my playlists and added a link to my Spotify profile in my bio. I also made sure to tag artists and bands whose music I featured in my playlists. This helped me connect with other music lovers and grow my following on both platforms.
Pinterest was another great way to promote my playlists, especially since it's such a visual platform. I utilized Idea Pins, "normal" pins, and keywords to reach my intended audience. This helped me reach a wider audience and gain more followers on both Pinterest and Spotify.
One of the things that I've noticed is that Pinterest has been a particularly effective platform for promoting my niche playlists. Pinterest's visual nature and emphasis on aesthetics make it a great place to showcase playlists that have a specific theme or vibe. For example, my "snowy mornings in a coffee shop somewhere" playlist has a very specific mood that I've tried to capture, and I've found that it resonates particularly well with the Pinterest community.
In addition to this, I've found that Pinterest is a great platform for curation in its own right. With Pinterest boards, users can easily curate and organize content around a specific theme, making it a great way to showcase playlists that have a specific niche or vibe. For example, I have a board specifically dedicated to my "chill indie vibes" playlist, where I can share not only the playlist itself but also other content that fits the same mood and aesthetic.
I've also found that Pinterest is a great platform for cross-promotion. By creating boards that are dedicated to specific moods or genres, I can showcase not only my own playlists but also other playlists that fit the same theme. This helps me connect with other music lovers on the platform and build a sense of community around specific music genres or moods.
Finally, TikTok has been an extremely effective way to promote my playlists. The app's algorithm is particularly friendly to music content, and I've found that short clips of my playlists paired with fun visuals and sounds have gained me a significant number of followers. It's been thrilling to see the positive response to my content, and I'm constantly inspired to create new and engaging videos.
What I love about TikTok is how it encourages experimentation and creativity. I've been able to play around with different styles of content, from showcasing my favorite songs of the week to sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses into my playlist-making process. The platform's duet feature has also allowed me to collaborate with other music lovers and even feature their playlists in my videos.
A nice bonus was that I could cross-post my TikTok videos to Instagram and Pinterest, where they would perform just as well - or even better - than they would on TikTok. This helped me reach a wider audience and gain more followers on all three platforms. Overall, TikTok has been a fun and
a rewarding way to promote my playlists and connect with other music enthusiasts.
My experience with Spotify has been nothing short of surprising. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a passion, and I've been blown away by the power of the platform to connect with others and build a community around music. I can't wait to see where it takes me next! If you're interested in creating your own playlists and growing your profile, I highly recommend exploring social media promotion and monetization options like PlaylistPush.
-H
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