Understanding Deezer and Its Curatorial Approach
Deezer stands as a prominent player in the streaming service industry, with a vast array of playlists curated to cater to the diverse tastes of its user base. Deezer curators play a crucial role in shaping the musical landscape, selecting tracks that resonate with listeners worldwide. For emerging artists, getting your music featured on one of these playlists can significantly boost your visibility and listener numbers.
Eligibility and Readiness
Before your music can be considered by Deezer curators, it must be distributed on the Deezer platform. This generally involves using a digital distribution service such as TuneCore, DistroKid, or CDBaby. These platforms will handle the licensing and distribution of your tracks, ensuring they are available on streaming platforms like Deezer.
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High-Quality Production: Your track should be professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered. Deezer curators look for professionally produced music as it reflects on the service they are providing to users.
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Metadata Matters: Ensure all your track metadata (title, artist, cover art, etc.) is accurate and high-quality. This data is critical as it is used by Deezer to organize and present content.
Leveraging Deezer’s In-House Submission Portal
One direct way to submit your music to Deezer’s curators is through Deezer Backstage. This platform serves as a dashboard for artists and labels to provide music content and additional information directly to Deezer.
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Deezer Backstage Access: To gain access, you need to create an account and verify your artist profile. Provide all required documentation and information to complete your profile. This includes biographies, discographies, high-resolution images, and social media links.
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Submit Your Music: Once your profile is set up, you can submit your tracks for playlist consideration through the portal. It’s important to be thoughtful about the playlists you choose to target. Focus on Deezer’s genre-specific or mood-based playlists that align with your music style.
Increase Your Chances with External Playlisting Services
Besides Deezer’s own tools, several third-party services specialize in playlist placement, which includes submissions to Deezer. SubmitHub, Playlist Push, and Groover are platforms where you can pitch your music to playlist curators, including those managing prominent Deezer playlists.
- Create a Compelling Pitch: When using these services, you have an opportunity to write a pitch. Be concise, honest, and engaging about what your track represents and why it would be a good fit for their playlists. Tailor your pitches to match the concept of the playlist or the curator’s musical taste.
Networking and Community Engagement
Building relationships with playlist curators can significantly enhance your chances of getting featured. Many curators are active on social media and industry-specific networking sites like LinkedIn.
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Engage on Social Media: Follow Deezer’s official social media profiles. Join conversations about music and playlists without making direct pitches. This builds familiarity and respect.
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Direct Contact: If you can identify the curators, engage with them respectfully. Share your music directly if they are open to receiving pitches. Always be professional and brief in your communication.
Optimize Your Online Presence
Deezer curators will often research an artist before adding their music to prominent playlists. As such, it’s essential to maintain an active and professional online presence.
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Update Your Website and Social Media Profiles: Keep your content fresh and engaging. Regular updates keep fans and potential new listeners interested and demonstrate your commitment to your career.
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Create Content Consistently: Release new music consistently, but also publish behind-the-scenes content, blogs, vlogs, and other engaging multimedia content. This can attract attention not just from potential fans, but also from playlist curators looking for active, engaging artists.
Analyzing Feedback and Engagement
Pay attention to the performance of your songs once they get playlisted. Deezer provides analytic tools through Deezer Backstage that allow you to see how your music is performing across different playlists.
- Engage Your Listeners: Encourage your fans to save and share your music. High engagement rates can lead to further playlist inclusions and renewals on existing ones.
By understanding Deezer’s ecosystem and utilizing a combination of direct submissions, third-party services, and robust networking, artists can strategize effectively to achieve playlist placements. Being proactive, creating high-quality content, and maintaining an engaging digital presence are paramount in catching a curator’s eye in the competitive streaming landscape.
