Spotify algorithm sets itself apart from other digital music streaming services.
While other streaming services use paid playlists made by listeners and various communities, Spotify depends on its algorithm and free playlists to recommend songs.
The first thing on the platform that you will notice is the home screen.
That is where you will find quick links to the content you often access, including links to playlists, albums, and podcasts.
The home screen is dominated by a system called BaRT, which is short for Bandits for Recommendations as Treatments.
BaRT is the exact reason why you don’t need to search for the right playlist or track when you’re on Spotify.
If you’re an artist or you’re planning to release a song on Spotify, then you need to know how the Spotify algorithm work, as well as how to beat it to maximize your success.
How do you beat the Spotify algorithm?
If you are trying to beat the Spotify shuffle algorithm, you need to remember their 30-second rule.
Your song should grab the listener immediately and make them stay for more than 30 seconds.
Otherwise, regardless of how many listeners initially listen to your song, it won’t count if they don’t pass that first 30 seconds.
Also, remember that timing is everything on Spotify.
For example, the first 12-24 hours after your track drops are crucial to your success or to gain momentum.
One of the better ways to get the algorithm to notice you in this timeframe is by getting a pre-saves boost before your release date.
Besides that, you have to pay attention to the competition, such as similar artists that may also be applying the same strategy as you.
For example, you want to avoid dropping a track on the same day as popular artists.
By avoiding this, you can naturally increase your chances to beat the Spotify algorithm.
If you want to know more about how important connecting is, then feel free to read our blog post on “Connecting Artists To Playlist Curators – Why It’s Important.”
How do I get more recommendations on Spotify?
Releasing a new song on a Friday is generally accepted as it gives you a greater chance of getting on the New Music Friday playlist.
Getting your song into Spotify algorithmic playlists can boost your stream count as well.
One way to improve your possibility of getting on these playlists is to use a valuable tool at your disposal that you already have – your fanbase.
Ask your fanbase, your friends, and even family members to put your song in number 1 on their playlists.
This will help the Spotify algorithm to better detect and notice you.
Another thing to note is to not forget to tag your songs in Spotify for Artists correctly.
If you are an artist and don’t have an artist account on Spotify, then you should make one right away.
Besides music platforms like us at SoundCampaign that can help you improve your music exposure, you also need to do your end of the deal.
By neglecting to do your part, you won’t be able to achieve your Spotify promotion goals.
By tagging and pitching your tracks directly to Spotify playlists, the platform will be able to determine what playlists they would suit and whom they should be recommended to.
If your tracks are labeled wrong, they will be recommended to the wrong users and skipped.
Remember the 30-second rule?
Skips before this mark are considered bad data, so it is extremely critical to label your tracks correctly.
How Does Spotify Algorithm Work?
Spotify recommends songs based on the user’s listening activities.
The algorithm also drops in fresh songs that it thinks the listener will like.
But how does it know what the user wants to listen to?
Well, the Spotify algorithm combines two concepts – Explore and Exploit.
This combination is the key to the platform’s recommendation system.
Exploit uses the listener’s listening history, playlists, social media activity, location, and songs skipped recommending tracks.
In other words, Exploit revolves around you – the listener.
Explore, on the other hand, is all about everybody else and their usage.
While exploring, Spotify starts looking for artists and playlists, similar to your listening habits.
The platform also looks at the popularity of the playlists and artists you have not heard of yet.
This is basically how Spotify makes recommendations.
Final Thoughts
So that’s how the Spotify algorithm works.
As you better understand this algorithm and its workings, you are also gaining a better understanding of yourself, such as what music will work in receiving more streams or fans.
Spotify has managed to keep its top position despite the growing popularity of emerging competitions such as Amazon and Alphabet.
And the biggest reason for the platform’s success is thanks to its unique algorithm.
If you know how it works, you will find that it will be much easier to beat their algorithm and find success on Spotify.
by artists for artists