How to Leverage Algorithms and Free Tools to Grow a Fanbase

Sustained success as a musician is much more about playing the long game than going viral. Learn how to leverage algorithms and free tools to grow a loyal and lasting fanbase.

How to Leverage Algorithms and Free Tools to Grow a Fanbase

by Randi Zimmerman from Symphonic

Going viral may be exciting in the moment, but it no longer guarantees life-changing success for artists. Getting your music heard by the masses, but also true success as an artist, requires playing the long game. And part of that game is understanding how discovery works. Editorial playlists are great if you can get them, but they’re not the only way (or even the most reliable way, for that matter) to grow your audience. What really moves the needle over time is the algorithm, those behind-the-scenes tools that recommend your music to people who’ve never heard of you… yet.

Although you can’t control everything, you can absolutely influence a lot. In this article, we’ll break down how to work with the DSP tools you already have in your arsenal to boost your visibility and grow your audience in no time…

Editorial vs. Algorithmic Playlists

When it comes to getting your music heard on streaming platforms, not all playlists are created equal. Some are handpicked by real people while others are driven by data and behavior. Knowing the difference helps you understand where to focus your energy.

• Editorial playlists are curated by the platform’s in-house team, like Spotify’s RapCaviar, Fresh Finds, or New Music Friday. Getting placed here is a huge win, but it’s competitive and not something you can control.
• Algorithmic playlists, on the other hand, are generated automatically based on what listeners like, save, and engage with. These include things like Release Radar, Discover Weekly, Spotify Radio, and Daily Mixes. The more listeners interact with your music, the more the algorithm pushes it to similar listeners.

On one hand, editorial playlists can give you a sudden boost in streams, some visibility, and even more followers. But once you’re off that playlist, that momentum can fade just as fast as it came if there’s no ongoing strategy behind it.

Algorithmic growth, on the other hand, builds over time. It’s based on listener behavior, so if people are saving your music, finishing songs, and coming back for more, platforms will keep recommending you to new audiences. Yes, it’s a slower burn, but a more sustainable path. Especially if you’re releasing consistently and making it easy for fans to engage with your music through methods like encouraging saves, shares, follows, and playlist adds through clear calls-to-action and easy access across platforms.

How To Improve Algorithmic Visibility

Sorry to break it to you, but you can’t get the algorithm to notice your music through shortcuts or life hacks… but you can give it the right signals. Some proven ways to boost your chances include things like:

• Releasing music consistently: The more often you put out quality music, the more chances the algorithm has to recommend you.
• Focusing on save rate: When fans save your songs to their libraries or playlists, it tells the algorithm your music is worth keeping around.
• Driving pre-saves and follows: Pre-saves show there’s anticipation before your music drops, and followers mean more people get your releases in their Release Radar, both strong signals to the algorithm.
• Engagement beats vanity metrics: Streams matter, but saves, shares, playlist adds, and full listens show deeper interest, which the algorithm rewards. (Think about building a connection, not just chasing numbers.)
• Finish rates are key: The algorithm favors tracks people listen to all the way through. So keep your music dynamic and engaging from start to finish.

Remember, it’s about quality and consistency, building habits that keep listeners coming back and, in turn, the algorithm pushing your music to more people. But what exactly can you do to make these happen? 

• For example, releasing music consistently keeps you fresh in listeners’ minds, so you could consider scheduling new singles or EPs every few weeks or months to build steady momentum.
• To encourage saves, try directly asking your fans on social media to save your track if they like it, or create fun challenges where saving the song is part of the goal.

Pre-save campaigns are another powerful tool. With services like Feature.fm, un:hurd, or Toneden, you can easily get fans to pre-save your upcoming releases, which signals anticipation to streaming platforms. Don’t forget to remind your audience to follow you on Spotify so your new songs land in their Release Radar playlists.

• To encourage deeper engagement, you can prompt fans to share your music on their social channels or add it to their personal playlists, since shares and playlist adds carry more weight with the algorithm than simple streams.
• And to boost finish rates, make sure your songs grab attention early on, keep listeners hooked throughout, and avoid long pauses or filler sections. You can even ask fans to share their favorite part of the song to promote full listens.

All of these are practical steps that will help you send strong signals to the algorithm to recommend your music to new listeners. ⚡️

Want to go deeper on how Spotify’s algorithm works? Check out  “How To Feed The Spotify Algorithm To Get More Streams” to learn more tips and tricks to help you hack the algorithm.