How to turn Spotify’s algorithm into your biggest fan

Spotify’s recommendation engine is powered by two parts of a simple equation: traffic and time.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro
1:09 - Get them listening
3:57 - Make it pop
7:11 - Outro

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Have questions about the video or have an idea for another topic you'd like for me to cover? Let me know in the comments.

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#spotify #spotifyartist #spotifymusic #spotifyplaylist #spotifyviral #music #marketing #musicmarketing #facebookads #musicians

[OldSport.mp]

first time ive made it onto discover weekly, has blown up since with 2-3k extra streams/day. Popularity score reached 31, 10, 000 plays in 3 weeks (with ads) - KEEP GOING !

[mpcdlp]

Great analysis! The problem with this config of the algorhithm is that royalties are so low that it doesn't pay off to give our music a hard push with ads. The ROI is simply not there.

[futuregods]

Is it true that it's not just about traffic but positive traffic? If someone clicks into Spotify but doesn't listen for 30 seconds, it tells the algorithm that people don't vibe with a song, lowering the popularity score VS. those who listen for 30+ seconds, positive impact on the algo?

[pmtonowhere]

So just using this traffic/time argument, why not use playlisting services that would get a lot more streams to the song in a shorter time vs ads for the same spend?

[alane_j]

New sub here! I loved all the info. Thank you!

[OldSport.mp]

10k streams <30 days + 30+ popularity score (thanks x-ray) seemed to trigger it

[yourbandisabusiness]

In your experience does the short time frame have to be immediately after the release or can it be later? Also have you ever heard of or seen the algorithm determining a big spike in streams to be suspicious?

[iamhvrcrft]

Yay spend $500 get $0 back but some streams that mean nothing…great music business plan…

[RichardAmesMusic]

Ads are a good way to engage an existing audience but a bad way to build one. Think about it: how often do you find new music via an ad?

[mightbefire]

Great video as always. We're a brand new artist - zero everything - and went really hard on the first weekend starting last Friday, but are turning down the ads now starting today (Monday). We were at 2500 streams at 5 pm on Sunday. Do you think this was a mistake? Will the algorithm react negatively to the dropoff of streams today? Would it have been better to spread it out equally over the entire first week? My belief was Spotify really emphasized the first moments - the first weekend specifically. Our main short-term goal is to get Release Radar next weekend.

[robjornayvaz]

Does the short window matter how close it is to the release? Can you make a short pop, months after a release?

[TonyDeSareMusic]

Hi, I applied a few weeks ago to possibly hire you. Haven’t heard anything and don’t have an email to follow up. I’ve got 200, 000 monthly’s and songs taking off and want to leverage. If you aren’t taking more clients, let me know so I can move on. Thank you!

[marshallross]

What about right after? For instance if I spend like crazy the first 3-4 days with meta ads and then I'm out of budget so my listens plummet?