How to Pitch Spotify Music Videos for Editorial Playlists
A practical guide to Spotify music video pitching for independent artists, including eligibility, timing, release assets, campaign use, rights checks, and realistic expectations.
The short answer
Spotify music video pitching lets eligible artist teams submit official music videos or performance videos for editorial video playlist consideration in Spotify for Artists. Treat it like a separate pitch from the audio pitch: confirm access, delivery path, eligibility, story, visual concept, rights clearance, and campaign timing. The pitch can support discovery, but it cannot promise placement or listener growth.
Three things to know
- 01
Spotify treats song pitches and video pitches as separate submissions, so teams should prepare both when the release has strong audio and video assets.
- 02
A video pitch works best when the concept, performance, story, and audience fit are clear before the team starts chasing campaign outcomes.
- 03
Rights, delivery, and timing matter because video adds visual, performer, location, and production approvals on top of the song release plan.
What should a Spotify video pitch packet include?
A simple packet keeps the video pitch aligned with the wider release campaign.
- 01
Eligibility check
Confirm whether the artist team can pitch the video and whether the video type matches Spotify's current eligible categories.
- 02
Delivery path
Decide whether the video is delivered through a label, distributor, or direct Spotify for Artists upload if beta access is available.
- 03
Creative summary
Write a concise explanation of the video's concept, mood, visual style, performance context, collaborators, and audience fit.
- 04
Rights review
Collect approvals for the recording, composition, performers, locations, footage, edits, brands, artwork, and any third-party material.
- 05
Campaign use
Map the video into social clips, YouTube, smartlinks, profile updates, press outreach, ad tests, and post-release reporting.
What is Spotify music video editorial pitching?
Spotify music video editorial pitching is the process of submitting an eligible official music video or performance video for consideration by Spotify editorial video playlist teams. It is not the same as pitching the song audio. If the team has both a single and a video, the campaign should prepare two clean stories: one about the recording and one about why the visual deepens the release.
How should artists decide whether a video is worth pitching?
Pitch the video when it gives the release a stronger reason to travel. A compelling performance, distinctive visual world, useful live session, or culturally specific story can make the video more than a mirror of the song. If the asset is a low-effort visualizer, rushed lyric clip, or unclear edit, the team may be better off using it for social support instead.
What should be ready before the video pitch?
Have the final or near-final video, release date, title, credits, delivery path, thumbnail thinking, audio match, artist profile access, and campaign copy ready. The pitch should explain the concept, mood, visual style, location, performance context, collaborator story, and audience fit. A small team should assign one owner for platform access and one owner for creative notes.
How does video pitching fit with the audio release campaign?
Use the video pitch as one layer in the release calendar. The audio pitch, pre-save or smartlink push, social clips, YouTube plan, press angle, and paid creative should all point toward the same campaign story. A video can create a second moment after launch, but it should not distract from delivery deadlines or the core listener path.
What rights checks should happen before pitching?
Video adds extra rights questions around performers, locations, directors, editors, stock footage, artwork, choreography, brands, samples, covers, and work-for-hire terms. This is educational guidance, not legal advice. Artists should ask qualified legal counsel to review rights, licenses, releases, and agreements before distributing or monetizing a video across platforms.
How should teams measure a Spotify video pitch after launch?
Measure the pitch through campaign signals, not a single yes or no outcome. Track whether the video created better social cutdowns, stronger press assets, more profile engagement, higher save intent, comments, shares, playlist adds, and useful audience data. If the video does not move, document whether the issue was asset quality, timing, targeting, or promotion.
How this guide uses evidence
Practical notes
- This guide uses Spotify's current support language that song and video pitches are separate submissions in Spotify for Artists.
- The campaign guidance treats video pitching as one release tactic and avoids promises about editorial decisions, streams, or audience growth.
- Rights guidance is educational and recommends qualified legal counsel for contracts, licenses, releases, and video monetization questions.
Source notes
- Spotify support says artist teams can pitch upcoming unreleased songs and eligible music videos, and that song and video pitches are separate: https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/pitching-music-and-videos-to-playlist-editors/
- Spotify support says video pitching is gradually rolling out and eligible videos include official music videos or performances delivered by a label, distributor, or direct upload where available: https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/pitching-music-and-videos-to-playlist-editors/
- Spotify for Artists describes video playlist consideration for official music videos and performance videos in its current music video guidance: https://artists.spotify.com/music-videos
Frequently asked questions
- Can every artist pitch music videos to Spotify editors?
- No. Spotify describes video pitching as a gradual rollout, so artist teams should check their Spotify for Artists access before planning around it.
- Is a Spotify video pitch the same as an audio pitch?
- No. Spotify says song and video pitches are separate, so the team should prepare a distinct story and asset plan for each submission.
- Should the video launch on the same day as the song?
- Only if the timing strengthens the campaign. A later video moment can also help extend the story after the first release-week push.
- Can a distributor handle the Spotify video delivery?
- Sometimes. Labels and distributors remain an important delivery path, while some artist teams may see direct upload options in Spotify for Artists.
- Do artists need legal review before pitching a video?
- Artists should get qualified legal counsel for video rights, releases, licenses, work-for-hire terms, and monetization questions before distribution.