How to Write the Perfect DSP Pitch: A Guide for Labels and Artists

A great DSP pitch is more than a formality; it’s your first impression.

Every week, DSP teams sift through thousands of submissions. The ones that break through are the ones that feel complete, intentional, and human.

At Revelator, we pitch your releases to DSP partners around the world. What helps us make your music stand out is the strength of your marketing drivers: the story, momentum, and context that turn a release into something real.

Why Marketing Drivers Matter

Your marketing drivers tell the story behind your track, what inspired it, who’s involved, and what’s happening around it. They’re what turn a great track into a campaign with direction.

They’re also how we bring your campaign to life across all DSPs what you share becomes the foundation for how we pitch your music to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer, YouTube, and more.

For example, when you submit through Revelator, think beyond the basics. Include details that help us tell a full story:

• What inspired the release, and what it represents in your artist’s journey
• Key collaborators, producers, or featured artists
• Marketing budget and plan
• Confirmed press, PR, or radio support
• Social and paid campaigns (TikTok, Meta, YouTube, etc.)
• Video plans, teasers, visualizers, live sessions, or short-form content
• Live performances, tours, or festival appearances
• Sync placements or brand collabs.

Don’t forget your territorial focus. DSP editorial teams often evaluate submissions by market, so highlight any countries or regions where you already see traction.

Use data from Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, or Revelator’s own analytics to identify your top streaming markets and active audiences. That information helps us tailor our pitching to the right regional editorial teams, the ones most likely to respond to your sound and story.

Timing and Workflow

Speed is great. But strategy is better.

Getting your track online in two hours means nothing if no one knows it exists.

DSP editors plan their playlists weeks ahead, weighing every submission against campaign calendars and audience signals.

To give your release the best shot:

Deliver the release four to six weeks before launch, and send us your full marketing information three to four weeks ahead of release day.

That’s the window where real opportunities happen.

For flagship programs like Spotify Radar, Apple Music Up Next, or Amazon Breakthrough, plan even earlier, ideally two to three months out. These placements require a full campaign, a marketing plan, and a strategy that are ready long before your music goes live.

If you need a refresher, check our guide:

How to Release Music on DSPs — Best Practices for Labels and Artists

Crafting the Perfect Pitch

Every pitch is a story in miniature. Editors aren’t reading press releases; they’re scanning for a spark of meaning. A strong description should feel emotional, focused, and easy to read.

Think of it as the bridge between sound and context. You want editors to understand not just what the song is, but why it exists — what makes it unique, timely, or emotionally resonant.

Keep your language inclusive. Your pitch should make sense to any DSP team around the world, so avoid naming specific platforms, playlists, or internal tools. Write in clear English that communicates to a global audience.

Bring in storytelling details that editors connect with — the creative process behind the song, an unexpected collaboration, or the inspiration that sparked it. A single, vivid detail about the recording or sound can help your track stand out. Use a few precise keywords that hint at mood, genre, or instrumentation — cues that help editors understand how the song fits their ecosystem.

Be selective. Editorial pitch fields are limited — typically around 500 characters on Spotify, 600 on Apple Music, so focus on one or two impactful points. That could be a notable press feature, a milestone like 2,000 pre-saves, or a performance highlight such as a sold-out hometown show. Avoid long lists of marketing plans or social stats; what matters is clarity, not quantity.

Here are examples that show different approaches:

Example 1 – Emotional & Visual

“‘Midnight Silhouettes’ captures Luna Voss’s late-night reflections during a European tour. The cinematic pop single, produced by Kai Bloom (BBC Introducing), blends warm synths and ambient textures inspired by Berlin. Supported by PR from Clash and a TikTok campaign, the release leads her debut EP planned for early 2026.”

Why it works: It connects emotion, collaboration, and campaign activity, all in under 500 characters.

Example 2 – Factual & Conceptual

“‘Fragments’ is the debut single from São Paulo-based producer Lucca Estevez. Built from field recordings of his city, it merges ambient and electronic textures to explore memory and place. Following recent sync placements on Netflix Brazil and a Boiler Room feature, the track introduces his forthcoming EP,Alta Forma.”

Remember, DSP pitch fields typically allow up to 500 characters (including spaces). Write short, purposeful sentences. Focus on what matters: sound, story, collaborators, campaign.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Avoid vague claims like “my best song yet” or “coming soon.” Editors prefer real milestones to hype. Don’t list every playlist or tag; focus on achievable fits. Skip exaggerated metrics.

And never submit last-minute. Editorial schedules move fast, but good planning beats panic every time.

The Bigger Picture

Playlists still matter, but they’re no longer the main driver of growth. A single editorial placement once guaranteed streams, but that “playlist win” mindset doesn’t hold up in today’s fragmented, personalized ecosystem.

Algorithms now play a bigger role in discovery, and engagement signals — saves, replays, playlist adds, and early traction — shape how far your music travels. That means long-term success depends as much on how listeners interact as on where your track appears.

Use tools like Marquee, Showcase, and Discovery Mode to amplify momentum, and focus on first-week activity through pre-saves and building deeper connections with your fans. Editorial moments are valuable, but real growth comes from combining them with consistent storytelling, catalog activation, and algorithmic strength.