Why Musicians Should Avoid Playlist Services

As a DIY musician, it’s easy to feel the pressure to jump on every new trend that promises to boost your streams and exposure. One service that many musicians flock to is playlist placement services. I see ads for them pop up on my feeds more and more every day. These services claim to get your music on high-traffic playlists, putting you in front of listeners who could become fans. On the surface, it sounds tempting—more streams, more attention, more opportunities. But let’s take a deeper look at why these services may not be the golden ticket they appear to be.

1. Playlist Services: Not Always Legit

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: there are playlist services out there that are flat-out scams. They’ll promise to get your music placed on major playlists, and either have no connections to place you, or put your track on a random playlist with no real following. The result? You’ve spent money for little to no return.

But even if you’re dealing with a legitimate playlist service, the results are still often underwhelming in the long run. Here’s why:

2. Worst Case Scenario: Bad Data to Streaming Services

When you get placed on a playlist that doesn’t align with your music, you could be feeding streaming platforms bad data. Spotify and other platforms rely on algorithms that track user behavior to make recommendations. If your music ends up in front of listeners who are completely different from your ideal audience, you’re not just missing out on true fans—you’re also sending mixed signals to the algorithm.

For example, if your pop-punk track ends up on a playlist full of ambient electronic music, those listeners are likely to skip your song, causing Spotify to classify your music as "low engagement" material. This harms the chances of your music being recommended to people who would actually enjoy it. 

If your pop-punk track is so good that these ambient electronic listeners still enjoy it, streaming platforms will then start to associate your music with the wrong genre, and subsequently place you with tracks that don’t really make sense.

In other words, a bad playlist placement can actively hurt your chances of gaining a meaningful audience.

3. Best Case Scenario: The “Put It On and Forget It” Audience

Let’s say the playlist placement service delivers on its promise and places your music in front of an audience that’s more aligned with your genre. In the best case, this could lead to some streams from listeners who might enjoy your sound. However, even in the best-case scenario, the listeners who engage with playlist-based music tend to be passive.

These listeners are often “playlist listeners,” the kind of people who want to put music on in the background and forget about it. They’re not likely to add your song to their personal playlist, follow your profile, or engage with you in any meaningful way. This means you get streams, but not necessarily fans who will help you grow your career long-term. They may know your song, but they aren’t always likely to know you, and that’s the big problem.

4. The Big Problem: The ‘One-and-Done’ Effect

The biggest issue with playlist services is that they create a cycle of “one-and-done” exposure. You’ll get a boost in streams while you’re paying for the service, but as soon as that money stops flowing, you’re back to square one. These services do little to help you build a lasting connection with your audience or turn those passive listeners into true fans.

Without a direct connection with your audience—whether through them following you on streaming platforms, email signups, or social media engagement —those streams aren’t likely to convert into anything meaningful once the playlist placement disappears. 

5. The Better Option: Run Your Own Ads

Instead of sinking money into playlist services, you can take control and run your own ads. With targeted ads, you can ensure that your music reaches the right people—people who will actually listen to your music and engage with your brand. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify allow you to run ads that target specific demographics, interests, and even behaviors, ensuring that your music is being heard by people who are most likely to become fans.

When you run your own ads, you have control over how your music is presented, who sees it, and how you engage with your audience. Plus, running ads gives you the chance to directly encourage listeners to follow you, join your email list, or buy your merch—something playlist placements can’t do.

Not only does this approach lead to more meaningful interactions with fans, but it’s also a more sustainable way to grow your audience over time. Once the ad campaign is set up, you can continually track its success, refine your targeting, and scale as needed—all without relying on a third-party service.

The Bottom Line: Make Every Dollar Count

As a musician with a small budget, every dollar counts. Instead of spending money on playlist services that deliver temporary results, focus on building an authentic, engaged fanbase that will stick with you for the long run. By running your own ads, you’re investing in your music career in a way that leads to real, sustainable growth.

If you’re unsure where to start, I offer a range of marketing services to help you plan and execute successful ad campaigns, optimize your release calendar, and develop strategies that make the most of your resources. Running your own ads can be a game-changer —so let’s get started!

With years of experience as a musician and in the marketing industry, I offer tailored strategies to help local and independent musicians reach their goals. From goal-setting to release planning and everything in between, I’m here to support your music journey.

Ready to make your next release your best one yet? Contact me today to discuss how we can work together to achieve your music marketing goals.