How to Grow Your Spotify Playlist as an Ambient Artist

As an ambient artist, growing your own playlist on Spotify is a powerful way to market your music and build a dedicated audience. Not only does it increase your streams, but it can also help you establish yourself as a curator, opening doors to future opportunities. Here's a simple guide on how to create and grow a successful playlist for your ambient music.

1. Find Your Niche (Title, Artwork & Keywords)

Pick a niche:
The first step in creating a playlist is choosing a niche that reflects the purpose of your music. For example, if your music is relaxing and soothing, a category like Sleepy & Calm might be ideal.

Make the artwork stand out:
Your playlist artwork should be eye-catching and relevant to the music you're sharing. Including the playlist title in the artwork is a great way to make it more visible to potential listeners who are scrolling through.

Use Keywords for discoverability:
To make sure people can find your playlist, use relevant keywords in the title and bio. Think about who your target audience is and what they might search for. For example:

• Niche: Sleepy & Calm

• Title: Ambient Music for Sleeping

• Artwork: Clouds, someone sleeping, or stars/nightfall.

• Bio: Enjoy our calm ambient music. Made to enhance sleeping, dreaming, and deepen your sleep.

2. Curate the Playlist

Don’t just include your own music:
While it’s important to showcase your tracks, it’s also beneficial to feature music from other ambient artists that complement your vibe. This not only enriches the playlist but also increases its visibility. When your playlist gains traction, it can appear under the “discovered on” tab in the Spotify profiles of the artists you feature. They might also share the playlist on their socials, driving traffic to it.

3. Keep It Fresh – Change It Up!

Keep the playlist dynamic:
Don’t let your playlist grow stale! Regularly update it by swapping out songs, adding new artists, and reordering the tracks. The more active the playlist is, the more likely it is to attract and maintain listeners. The goal is to keep the playlist engaging for real, long-term listeners.

4. Listen to Your Own Playlist

Boost the playlist’s visibility:
By listening to your playlist yourself, you increase its chances of showing up for others. You may be surprised—many successful playlists started with just the creator's own listens. Consistent plays can signal to Spotify that your playlist is worth recommending to new listeners.

5. Use Social Media Ads (Optional)

Boost traffic through ads:
If you're looking for an initial boost, using Instagram and Facebook ads can drive traffic to your playlist. While many listeners may not stick around, some may resonate with your playlist and continue listening to it daily. Ads are a good way to get initial exposure.

6. Consistency & Patience

Stay patient and persistent:
Building a following for your playlist takes time, so don’t give up too quickly. You might gain only a few followers in the first weeks, but with consistency, the number of listeners will grow over time. Trust the snowball effect—what starts slow can turn into something much bigger.

7. Keep Trying

Experiment with new ideas:
Not every playlist will be a success, and that’s okay! If you’ve been stuck at 0 followers for weeks or months, consider creating a new playlist with a different niche, title, or keywords. Keep experimenting and refining your approach.

Growing your own Spotify playlist is an excellent way for ambient artists to gain visibility and connect with their audience. By finding your niche, curating carefully, and remaining consistent, you can watch your playlist grow and potentially become a recognized curator on the platform. Stay patient and keep experimenting—success will follow!