Sometimes the next song you should promote is already in your catalog. That’s what I’m learning with Thirsty. The song was getting a response, so I started giving it more support through playlist submissions on SubmitHub. The strategy is simple: find what’s connecting, test it with a small budget, and pay attention before spending more.
Disclosure: SubmitHub is a regular sponsor of my channel. The results below describe my own experience, not a promise of what another campaign will produce.
What’s happening with Thirsty?
When I recorded this video, Thirsty had about 1,300 streams over the previous 28 days, roughly 1.3 streams per listener, more than 70 playlist adds, and dozens of saves. I submitted the song to about 100 playlists through SubmitHub, with an acceptance rate around 20%.[1] Compared with other songs I’ve promoted through playlisting, Thirsty was getting a stronger response. That gave me a reason to keep testing. Here are some steps you can take to grow your catalog.
1. Find a song that already has momentum
I started by looking through about 10 songs in my catalog. Which ones were already getting attention? Which ones were people saving or adding to playlists? Thirsty stood out. As independent artists, we put a lot of energy into the next release. But an older song can still be new to somebody hearing it for the first time. Before building another campaign from scratch, look at what listeners are already responding to.
2. Start with a small test
My suggestion in the video is to try $20 to $25 in playlist submissions before committing more. That gives you something to evaluate. Are curators accepting the song? Do those placements bring listeners? Is anything happening beyond a temporary increase in streams? The goal is to find a good audience for the song. A bigger number alone doesn’t tell you you found the right audience. Spotify distinguishes paid consideration from services that guarantee streams or playlist placement, which it prohibits.[2]
3. Measure more than streams
Streams matter. I also want to know whether people have a reason to come back.
Here’s what I’m watching:
Playlist adds: Are people putting the song somewhere they can find it again?
Saves: Are listeners choosing to keep track of it?
Repeat listening: Are people returning after that first play?
Audience growth: Is the promotion helping more people discover my music?
A save or playlist add doesn’t tell me exactly what someone is thinking. But it gives me more information than a stream count alone. I want to know whether I’m building an audience, not just collecting plays.
What about Spotify’s popularity score?
I’m watching that too, but I’m keeping it in perspective. SubmitHub’s Spotify Popularity Score Guide notes that artists often see Discover Weekly activity around a score of 30. It also makes clear that this isn’t a strict rule.[3] I’m treating that as an observation, not a target that guarantees a result. The score can’t tell me everything about how listeners feel or whether the song will keep growing. I still need to look at what people actually do.
4. Give the strongest song more support
I noticed Thirsty’s response improving back in June, so I began submitting it to more playlists each month. That’s the part I want other artists to take from this: let the results guide where your next dollars go. I’m also using other promotional methods to support the playlist growth. From there, I can find more organic and paid ways to get the song heard.
Discover. Test. Measure. Promote.
You may already have a song worth giving another push. Check your catalog before assuming you need something new and start getting your music heard.
Sources and credits
[1] WordPlay T. Jay, “This Music Promotion Strategy Can Help Your Songs Grow,” supplied video transcript. Campaign figures are approximate and reflect the recording period.
[2] Spotify for Artists, “Artificial Streaming.” Guidance distinguishing playlist consideration from prohibited guarantees of streams or placement.
[3] SubmitHub, “Spotify Popularity Score Guide: What It Is and When and Why It Matters for Artists.” The reported Discover Weekly pattern is an observation, not a guaranteed threshold.
