Whether you’re a bedroom pop genius or a globe-trotting genre-blender, there’s one battlefield every indie artist must face: the Spotify pitch form. If you’ve ever stared at that blank box thinking, “What do I even say?”—you’re not alone. But don’t worry. I’ve got your back, and today, we’re turning that guessing game into a power move.

This post is based on my conversation with Sam Friske, music tech founder and former streaming manager at Universal and Concord. She’s seen the playlist machine from the inside—and now she’s helping artists work smarter through her platform Cadence IO, which streamlines your marketing workload into a single, beautiful, time-saving form.

Let’s dive deep.

First, Why the Pitch Even Matters

You might think the music should speak for itself. I get it. But with over 100,000 songs uploaded to Spotify every day, editors need more than vibes to decide who makes the cut. Your pitch is your first impression, your elevator story, and your chance to stand out.

Even if your song doesn’t land an editorial playlist, the metadata you submit helps Spotify’s algorithm know who to show your song to. Yep, those keywords matter.

The Anatomy of a Great Spotify Pitch

Here’s the formula straight from the source—what Sam used to look for as a streaming manager at a major label:

1. Start With an Artist Quote or Song Description

Keep it short, sweet, and personal.

Think:

“I wrote this song during a sleepless night on tour, thinking about the people who never got to say goodbye.”

This is your human moment—your hook. Give editors a glimpse behind the curtain. This connects your track to a narrative, and stories stick.

2. Brag—Humbly, But Loudly

This is the most skipped step, and it’s where you gain credibility.

Include:

Tours you’re on or artists you’ve opened for
Magazine or blog features (even small ones)
Notable playlist adds (even Discover Weekly counts!)
Film/TV syncs
Social stats if they’re impressive (e.g., “10k pre-saves in 48 hours”)

Show that people are paying attention. Editors want to invest their limited time in music that’s already moving.

3. Highlight the Song’s Fit

Help the editor place your track.

You can say:

“This song blends indie pop with Chinese dizi flute melodies—perfect for fans of Glass Animals or Japanese Breakfast.”

List key moods (chill, uplifting, energetic), genre tags, and even instruments used. Editors often build playlists based on energy or soundscape.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Being too vague.
“This song is about life and love” won’t cut it. Give specific emotions, settings, or experiences.
Overstuffing with buzzwords.
Don’t write a press release. Editors want clarity, not marketing fluff.
Forgetting your why.
Why did you make this song? What makes it yours?

Pro Tools: Use Cadence IO to Simplify It All

Sam built Cadence IO because she got tired of wasting time on repetitive, manual pitch work—so she created one form that distributes your pitch data to multiple streaming platforms.

It even helps format your info for Spotify, Amazon, SoundCloud, Tidal, and more. You fill it out once. Cadence does the rest. No extra logins. No missed fields. No chaos.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Writing a great Spotify pitch isn’t about being fancy. It’s about being clear, honest, and strategic. Treat it like a chance to say:

“Hey, here’s something real. Something rising. Pay attention.”

And if all this still feels like too much, remember: you don’t have to do everything alone. Tools like Cadence IO exist to take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on your craft, not your admin.

Now go write that pitch—and let the world hear what you’ve got.

Thanks for reading and Keep Dreaming Big!

God Bless,