Where to Submit Your Music in 2026: Curators, DJs and Playlists
Sending your track to the right people is still the fastest way to get it heard. Here is where to submit in 2026, what each option costs, and how to pitch so your track gets past the first ten seconds.
Quick answer: for dance music, start with Sick Taste Creators (free, straight to DJs and curators) and Hits District Spotlight (in front of DJs looking for tracks). For playlists and blogs across every genre, use SubmitHub and Groover with a small test budget. And always pitch unreleased tracks to Spotify's editors through Spotify for Artists, which is free.
Full disclosure: Sick Taste and Hits District are run by the same team. We have included them because they are built for exactly this, and we have been upfront about what each option, ours included, does not do.
Before you submit anywhere
- Lead with your strongest track. One great track beats an EP link. Curators decide fast.
- Nail the first 30 seconds. Many curators skip on if the intro does not grab them. Consider a radio edit for submissions.
- Get the basics right. Finished mixdown and master, proper artwork, correct title and artist name, and a working link.
- Have somewhere for new fans to land. A curator's support is wasted if listeners cannot follow you. Put a download gate or your profiles one click away.
The best places to submit your music
Sick Taste Creators
Submission boxes run by DJs, curators and channels, all in one place.
Best for: Getting club tracks, edits and remixes to DJs and curators
- Free to submit
- Free
- Featured, Fresh and Most sent shelves
- Send a link or one of your download gates
Why we rate it
- Free to send. Some creators ask for your email or a follow first, the same steps a fan meets on a download gate.
- Browse by Featured, Fresh and Most sent to find active creators quickly.
- If you already have your track on a Sick Taste download gate, you can send it in a couple of clicks.
- Run your own box too: once you have an audience, open a submission box and grow your followers from every demo you receive.
Watch-outs
- Each creator decides what they play or feature, so there is no guaranteed response.
SubmitHub
The biggest marketplace for reaching playlist curators, blogs and channels.
Best for: Testing a track across many playlists and blogs
- Premium credits, from about $1 each
- Curators cost 1 to 5 credits
- Around $0.80 a credit in bulk
- Feedback on every premium send
Why we rate it
- A huge range of curators across every genre, with each curator's price and approval rate shown before you send.
- Premium submissions come with written feedback, which is useful even when the answer is no.
- A small budget goes a long way for testing which tracks land.
Watch-outs
- Approval rates are low for most curators. Expect plenty of declines and treat them as data.
- Credit costs add up quickly if you send to every curator in your genre.
Hits District Spotlight
Your track in front of DJs on an independent electronic dance music radar.
Best for: Electronic tracks, remixes and edits aimed at working DJs
- Paid Spotlight placement
- Electronic dance music
- Seen by DJs looking for tracks
- Clearly marked as Spotlight
Why we rate it
- Hits District is where DJs go to see what is getting played across the electronic scene, so Spotlight puts your track in front of people who play music out.
- Focused on dance music, so you are not paying to reach curators outside your genre.
Watch-outs
- Built for electronic dance music. Other genres are better served by SubmitHub or Groover.
Groover
Pay per contact to reach curators, media, radio, labels and DJs, with a reply promised.
Best for: European media, radio and label contacts
- 2 Grooviz (about €2) per contact
- 3,000+ curators and pros
- Reply within 7 days or credit back
- No subscription
Why we rate it
- Reach goes beyond playlists to blogs, radio stations, record labels, bookers and sync supervisors.
- If a curator does not reply within 7 days, your Grooviz are returned to your balance.
- Filter by genre, language and region, which is strong for European markets.
Watch-outs
- Returned Grooviz come back as credit to spend on Groover, not cash.
- Top curators cost 4 to 6 Grooviz, and Groover recommends contacting around 50 for best results, so budget accordingly.
Don't forget: Spotify for Artists (free)
If your track is going to Spotify, pitch it to Spotify's editorial team through Spotify for Artists before release. It costs nothing. You can pitch one unreleased track per release, and Spotify asks for at least seven days' notice, so upload to your distributor early (see our guide to the best music distributors). Even if editors pass, pitching helps your track reach your followers' Release Radar.
At a glance
| Where | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sick Taste Creators | Free to submit | Getting club tracks, edits and remixes to DJs and curators |
| SubmitHub | Premium credits, from about $1 each | Testing a track across many playlists and blogs |
| Hits District Spotlight | Paid Spotlight placement | Electronic tracks, remixes and edits aimed at working DJs |
| Groover | 2 Grooviz (about €2) per contact | European media, radio and label contacts |
| Spotify for Artists | Free | Pitching unreleased tracks to Spotify's editors |
How to pitch so you actually get heard
- Target, don't spray. Ten curators who feature your exact genre beat a hundred who don't. Read what they post before you send.
- Keep the message short and specific. Who you are, what the track is, and why it fits their playlist, mix or show. Two or three sentences is plenty.
- Mention comparable artists. "For fans of" helps a curator place you in seconds.
- Use the feedback. When several curators say the same thing about your intro or your mix, listen.
- Follow up with a thank you. If someone supports your track, thank them and share their post. Curators remember artists who show up for them.
- Avoid guaranteed streams. Anyone promising a set number of plays or a guaranteed playlist spot is a risk. Spotify can remove tracks and withhold royalties over artificial streaming.
The bottom line
There is no single best place to submit. Combine free options with a small paid budget: send to DJs and curators on Sick Taste Creators, put dance tracks in front of DJs with Hits District Spotlight, test a few curators on SubmitHub and Groover, and always pitch Spotify's editors before release. Then make sure every new listener has a way to become a fan.
Send your track today
Find DJs, curators and channels taking submissions on Sick Taste.
Browse submission boxesFrequently asked questions
Where can I submit my music in 2026?
The main options are Sick Taste Creators, where DJs, curators and channels run submission boxes; SubmitHub and Groover, which charge per submission to reach playlist curators, blogs, labels and radio; Hits District Spotlight for electronic dance music aimed at DJs; and Spotify for Artists, where you can pitch an unreleased track to Spotify's editors for free.
Is SubmitHub or Groover better?
Both work on paid credits. SubmitHub premium credits start at around $1 each, with curators charging between 1 and 5 credits. Groover usually costs 2 Grooviz, about 2 euros, per contact and promises a reply within 7 days or your Grooviz back as credit. SubmitHub has a huge range of playlist curators and blogs; Groover is strong for European media, radio and labels. Many artists try both with a small budget and compare results.
Can I submit my music for free?
Yes. Pitching through Spotify for Artists is free for unreleased tracks, and submitting to creators' boxes on Sick Taste is free; some creators simply ask for your email or a follow first. Paid platforms like SubmitHub and Groover can reach more curators faster, but they are not required.
Should I pay for Spotify playlist placements?
Be very careful. Paying for a guaranteed number of streams or a guaranteed playlist placement can attract fake streams, and Spotify can remove tracks and withhold royalties when it detects artificial streaming. Paying for a curator's time to listen and give feedback is different from paying for guaranteed plays.
How do I pitch my music to curators?
Pick curators who actually feature your genre, send your strongest track rather than your whole EP, and write a short, specific message: who you are, what the track is, and why it fits their playlist, mix or show. Make sure the first 30 seconds are strong, because that is often all a curator hears before deciding.