Breaking Down The Different Types Of Playlists On Spotify For Casual Listeners And Rising Artists

In the vast musical landscape of Spotify, playlists reign as the ultimate vessels to expand your sonic horizons, catering to the diverse preferences of millions of users worldwide. From mood-specific mixes to editorial compilations, Spotify offers many playlist types that keep the music flowing for every occasion and taste.

Over time, Spotify has put in substantial research, money spent on evolving its algorithmic code, and other resources to reach the level of interaction and personalization it features today. Let’s embark on a musical journey to unravel and explore the various playlist categories encompassed in the platform.

Join us as we delve into personal playlists, curated editorials, and algorithmic marvels, deciphering how they keep us engaged and entranced with a constant stream of music. Whether you’re a seasoned Spotify fan or a novice eager to widen your auditory library, this breakdown will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the artistry behind the perfect playlist curation. So scroll like you do through this music streaming service and dive into the harmonious world of Spotify playlists.

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Editorial Playlists

These types of playlists typically have the biggest followings and daily listeners. Editorial playlists reflect a carefully curated selection of tracks that span genres, moods, and cultural trends. Each one is meticulously crafted by Spotify’s in-house team of music experts and algorithmic insights. Designed to offer users an immersive and engaging musical experience, editorial playlists showcase a diverse array of established and emerging artists, ensuring listeners are constantly exposed to fresh and captivating sounds.

Covering themes from “New Music Friday” to specialized genres like “Indie Pop Chillout,” these playlists are updated frequently to reflect the latest musical releases and trends. They serve as a valuable platform for artists to gain visibility and connect with new audiences, offering a dynamic blend of chart-toppers, hidden gems, and upcoming sensations. Ultimately, Spotify’s editorial playlists not only guide listeners on a voyage of musical discovery but also significantly influence the global music landscape.

When it comes to dance music specifically, editorial playlists can be an extremely helpful tool for DJs or just your average listeners to add to their library of music. Here are some of the top editorial playlists for dance music and the soundscapes they embody:

• mint: Genre – Mainstream dance music (most liked dance-focused playlist)
• Notable Artists – Calvin Harris, Skrillex, SHM, David Guetta, Tiësto, Alan Walker
• Notable Songs –
• Dance Rising: New-era sounds from top-tier artists (mainly house)
• Notable Artists – Cloonee, SIDEPIECE, Wax Motif, Joel Corry, Hayden James
• Trap Mojito: Electronic Trap
• Notable Artists – RL Grime, TroyBoi, Flosstradamus, ISOxo
• Chill Tracks: Soft, deep house
• Notable Artists – Yotto, Lane 8, Tinlicker, Sultan + Shepard, Nora En Pure
• Operator: Tech House
• Notable Artists – Mau P, Biscits, J. Worra, James Hype, Walker & Royce
• Housewerk: House (more mainstream)
• Notable Artists – Peggy Gou, Sonny Fodera, John Summit, FISHER, Dom Dolla
• Altar: Alternative Electronic Music (more chill)
• Notable Artists – DJ Seinfeld, Disclosure, Maribou State, Barry Can’t Swim
• Tantra: Melodic House and Melodic Techno
• Notable Artists – Adriatique, Anyma, Miss Monique, Monkey Safari, Stephan Jolk
• Techno Bunker: Techno (dark)
• Notable Artists – Belocca, Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, UMEK, Layton Giordani
• Nasty Bits: Bass House and Brostep
• Notable Artists – AC Slater, Habstrakt, BIJOU, Malaa, Dr. Fresch, Knock2
• Bass Arcade: Dubstep and Experimental Bass
• Notable Artists – CloZee, Zeds Dead, DIESEL, Rezz, NGHTMRE
• Happy Beats: Uplifting House and Disco (piano-driven)
• Notable Artists – LP Giobbi, KC Lights, Mark Knight, Noizu, Tensnake, D.O.D
• Dubstep Don: Heavy Dubstep
• Notable Artists – 12th Planet, Ray Volpe, Apashe, Riot Ten, Sullivan King
• Brain Food: Electronica for studying and relaxing; deep house and ambient oriented
• Notable Artists – Mild Minds, Catching Flies, Leaving Laurel, ford.
• Phonk
• Notable Artists – Slowboy, NXVAMANE, S3BZS, INTERWORLD, Dxrk ダーク
• Metropolis: Indie Dance, Chill EDM, and Disco
• Notable Artists – NEIL FRANCES, Jungle, ODESZA, Goth Babe, Mindchatter
• Dance Hits: Mainstream Dance and House music
• Notable Artists – Matroda, ACRAZE, Duke Dumont, Imanbek, Dombresky

If you are an up-and-coming artist or producer, it can be very challenging to land your music in the larger editorial playlists. While signing with a label has its pros and cons, most prominent labels ensure that you will end up on the playlists that fit your style of music, thus increasing your exposure. Independent releases are assessed by curators using the following criteria:

• How many followers does the artist have on Spotify?
• Does the release have a significant amount of buzz and attention surrounding it?
• Are you well-known among high-level tastemakers, and what past inclusions do you have in certain playlists?

It is less likely than going the label route, but pitching your music to the playlist editors via ‘Spotify for Artists’ can only help you. Click HERE to check out the step-by-step process to pitch your unreleased music.     

Branded Playlists

Right behind the editorial sector (and even more influential in some situations) is the diverse selection of branded playlists. Although these aren’t created by Spotify itself, the cream of the crop in this region is relative to the size and influence of the brand.

For example, popular music-centric blogs, more often than not, have their playlists. There seems to be a direct relationship between the population of the outlet’s audience and how many likes its top playlists have. So, Billboard’s Hot 100 has an exponential amount of listeners (over 2 million) compared to a small grassroots blog solely centered around experimental bass music.

Record labels and music publishing companies are also players in the playlist game. Occasionally, hot imprints, like Future House Music, for instance, actually make playlists outside of their genre, yet still do well. This label, in particular, has a couple of hundred thousand likes on each of ‘Electro House 2023’, ‘Future House 2023’, and ‘Tech House 2023’. As you can see, picking an SEO-friendly and somewhat generic name can boost support.

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Additionally, the top-notch YouTube curators have taken their massive following on that platform and transferred it to Spotify. Trap Nation, 7 Clouds, Trap City, Majestic Casual, and MrSuicideSheep, to name a few, have Spotify playlists that have racked up millions of likes.

It is important to note that not just music-related brands can have successful playlists on Spotify. Non-music branded playlists forge powerful emotional connections with listeners by aligning with specific moods, activities, or emotions. Whether it’s a fitness brand curating a high-energy workout playlist or a coffee company setting the ambiance with mellow tunes, these playlists become integral to a brand’s storytelling strategy. With the ability to showcase their products or services in a subtle yet impactful manner, brands can elevate consumer engagement and loyalty.

To lock in a spot as an artist on any of these branded playlists, the strategy that has proven to be most effective is personalized reach out rather than sending out a mass email. As a professional in the music PR industry, I recommend searching for the curator of the playlist and their email. Tell them what you admire about their playlist and why your track is a prime fit. Several brands have submission portals, which is a viable method.

Algorithmic playlists

Algorithmic playlists have revolutionized how we discover, curate, and enjoy music. These dynamic collections of songs offer a musical experience tailored to individual tastes and moods. They leverage data-driven insights and user behavior patterns to forge playlists that surpass mere compilations, tapping into predictive analytics and AI-driven curation.

Advanced machine-learning algorithms that analyze various data points are at the core of algorithmic playlists. These include user listening history, favorite genres, artists, tempo preferences, and even the time of day the music is played. By comprehensively evaluating these variables, algorithms can accurately predict what songs a listener might enjoy at any given moment.

Ronny Ho from Spotify illuminates this synergy, stating, 

“In essence, the editorial team acts as a bridge between the art of human curation and the science of algorithms. We harness cultural expertise to assemble an extensive pool of tracks that can potentially captivate listeners. Algorithms, in turn, apply machine learning to refine these selections, offering users a tailor-made experience.”

The process behind Spotify’s algorithmic playlists involves several key components:

1. User Data Collection: Spotify collects a wealth of user data, including listening history, likes, skips, playlist creations, and explicit preferences. This data forms the foundation for understanding individual musical tastes.
2. Machine Learning Techniques: The platform employs machine learning techniques, such as collaborative filtering, natural language processing, and deep neural networks, to analyze user behaviors and preferences. These algorithms identify patterns and relationships within the data, enabling the system to make accurate music recommendations.
3. Dynamic Updates: Algorithmic playlists are dynamic and regularly updated. The algorithms learn and adapt as users interact with the platform, refining the recommendations. This keeps the listening experience fresh and engaging.
4. Playlist Generation: Spotify’s algorithms generate a variety of algorithmic playlists based on different criteria. These include “Discover Weekly,” which suggests new songs based on a user’s past listening habits, and “Release Radar,” highlights new releases from artists a user follows.

DJ Pro Tip: Follow all the artists that make proficient music within the genres you mix. By following over 1,000 artists, I spend over an hour each week going through my Release Radar. This has virtually guaranteed that I don’t miss out on any hidden gems.

For a deeper dive into how Spotify balances the blend of human insight and algorithmic precision in music curation, check out the full interview with Ronny Ho here.

Here are the pros and cons that stem from Spotify’s algorithmic playlists:

PROS:

1. Enhanced Music Discovery: Users are introduced to diverse music, including tracks they might not have discovered otherwise. This encourages musical exploration and supports emerging artists.

1. User Engagement: Personalized playlists keep users engaged with the platform, leading to longer listening sessions and increased user satisfaction. Many of us love to talk and share new music we found with friends or on social media, which is usually sourced for our Release Radar or Discover Weekly.

1. Artist Promotion: Algorithmic playlists provide a platform for lesser-known artists to gain exposure, as their music is featured alongside popular tracks.

1. Data-Driven Insights: Spotify’s algorithms offer insights into user preferences and trends, benefiting listeners and music industry professionals.

CONS:

1. Privacy Issues: There are concerns regarding data privacy and potential biases in algorithmic recommendations. Striking a balance between personalization and broader musical discovery remains an ongoing challenge for Spotify.
2. Discourages Self-Exploration: Sometimes, the best way to find the songs that most align with your musical interests is to search through different artists and playlists other than algorithmic ones. Users may become too comfortable with the system and solely refer to their algorithmic playlists for sonic discovery.

Beyond Release Radar and Discover Weekly, which are undeniably the two most popular algorithmic playlists, here are options that can be equally pleasant to your ears:

1. Daily Mixes: A collection of up to six playlists that blend a user’s favorite tracks with discoveries based on different genres and moods.
2. Time Capsule: A nostalgic playlist with tracks from a listener’s past, designed to evoke memories and emotions.
3. On Repeat: Features songs a user has frequently replayed, offering insights into their current musical obsessions. Even ‘Repeat Rewind’ hosts past tracks you used to listen to on repeat.
4. Your Top Songs: Summarizes a user’s most-played tracks over a specific period, reflecting their favorite songs and artists.

5. BLANK Mix: The word blank represents either an artist (i.e. Dua Lipa), a genre (rock), a mood (happy), or a period (70s) that connects to the individual listener. The algorithm will build a playlist by combining your listening history and topic.

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Playlists Created By Other Users And Artists

Spotify allows its subscribers, free and paid, to make infinite playlists. Each account holder can decide if they want their playlist to be private or public and share the link with whomever they want.

It is always a fun time going through your favorite artists’ playlists. It is also a fantastic way for artists to grow their following. By becoming tastemakers, in addition to their own productions, artists can accumulate fans with whom they may have never crossed paths.

For artists that are aiming to land features on popular independent user playlists, please make sure to tread carefully. Some curators will charge a fee for a feature, promise a certain amount of daily listens, and obtain more followers. Scammers have found ways to make bots to secure a substantial number of daily listens across their playlists. While your song might get 50,000 listens from being in a user playlist, nearly all of these could be fake and automated, which will never evolve your music career.

Playlists That You Make

Personal playlists on Spotify empower you to curate your unique sonic tapestries and shape a musical adventure around your distinct tastes and moods. These playlists serve as personalized soundtracks, enabling you to organize tracks, albums, and artists into a collection that reflects your personality and emotions.

With the freedom to name, rearrange, and fine-tune the content, the compilations are vessels of self-expression and creativity. Like the types of playlists previously mentioned in this article, you can create for various occasions – from energizing workouts to tranquil evenings – infusing each moment with a musical atmosphere of your choosing.

Furthermore, personal playlists foster a sense of nostalgia, capturing memories and emotions that become intertwined with specific songs. Sharing these playlists with friends and followers adds a social dimension by strengthening connections through shared musical affinities. Plus, a massive sense of pride stems from being your network’s music guru.

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One cool function that Spotify has brought to personal playlists is a suggestion tool at the bottom. It takes all the data from the songs in your playlist and showcases five tracks that match their collective vibe and genre. If you like the tune, you can immediately add it to the playlist, and another one will pop up in its place. You can also refresh the selection, replacing them with five new recommendations.

Complementing this excellent feature is ‘smart mode’ for playlists. For every couple of songs, Spotify will insert a worthy recommendation so that you can listen to potential candidates while on shuffle. These can also be instantly added to the playlist with a button.

Collaborative playlists

Rounding out our comprehensive list is collaborative playlists. These playlists can be started and modified by multiple users. Friends or family members can collaborate on adding and removing songs, making it an exciting way to create a playlist for a party or event together. Just be cautious about whom you permit to use; not everyone’s musical tastes can be trusted.

Technically, they aren’t playlists, but it’s worth mentioning the benefits of collaborative albums for amateur and semi-professional artists:

• Exposure and Reach: Artists involved in a collaborative album can tap into each other’s fan bases, potentially reaching a broader audience and gaining new followers.
• Cross-Promotion: Collaborators often promote the album on their own platforms, such as social media and concerts, providing mutual exposure for all artists involved.
• Creativity and Innovation: Working with other artists can spark new ideas and creative directions, leading to innovative and fresh musical styles that may not have emerged individually.
• Networking and Relationships: Collaborative projects facilitate connections between artists and can lead to long-lasting professional relationships, opening doors for future collaborations.
• Shared Resources: Artists can pool resources like recording studios, producers, and marketing efforts, potentially reducing individual costs.
• Fan Engagement: Collaborative albums generate excitement among fans of all artists involved, leading to increased engagement, discussions, and anticipation.

Summing Up Spotify Playlists

Hopefully, this article has expanded your knowledge of the various types of Spotify playlists and how they function. As an artist, it is crucial to understand who is operating these playlists, how they operate, and how to use Spotify to your advantage. As a listener, I can assure you that your Spotify listening experience has been forever changed and you have a new perspective on music discovery.