Curator

Category: Music Marketing

What is Curator?

A curator is someone who creates and maintains playlists, ranging from platform editorial teams to independent playlist owners.

Curator explained

Curators build playlists that shape music discovery for millions of listeners. They range from platform employees (Spotify's editorial team) to influential independent playlist creators. Getting on curated playlists is a primary growth strategy for artists. Curators consider: song quality, artist story, playlist fit, and release timing. Approaching curators requires research—understanding their playlist vibe, reaching out professionally, and providing complete information. Ethical curation means no 'pay for play'—legitimate curators select based on quality, not payment. Building relationships with niche curators in your genre often yields better results than chasing the largest playlists.

Why Curator matters for independent artists

Understanding Curator helps you make better promotion decisions on SoundCloud and other streaming platforms. On Reposter Network, artists apply concepts like this every day when they trade real plays, likes and reposts with other musicians instead of buying fake engagement.

Related terms

• Playlist Pitching: Playlist pitching is submitting your music to playlist curators or editorial teams for potential inclusion in their playlists.
• Algorithm: SoundCloud's algorithm determines which tracks appear in Discover, recommended sections, and search results based on engagement signals.

Browse the full music marketing glossary or read the guide on SoundCloud repost networks.