How to Get on Spotify Release Radar (2026 Guide)
How to Get on Spotify Release Radar
To get on Release Radar, deliver your release to Spotify at least 7 days before release day and pitch one song in Spotify for Artists. Spotify then adds that song to your followers' Release Radar. Listeners who stream you but don't follow you, and people with similar taste, can also get it. More followers means a bigger guaranteed reach.
Release Radar is the one algorithmic playlist where artists get a lever they can actually pull. You can't apply for Discover Weekly, but you can make sure every follower is served your new song the Friday it comes out. This guide covers how that works, according to Spotify's own Release Radar documentation, and what changed in July 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Release Radar updates every Friday with new music from artists a listener follows, artists they listen to, and other artists Spotify thinks they'll like.
- Pitch at least 7 days before release and Spotify puts the pitched song in your followers' Release Radar. If you don't pitch, Spotify picks the song from your release.
- One song per artist per listener per week. A song can stay in someone's Release Radar for up to 4 weeks if they haven't heard it yet.
- Some versions don't qualify: re-releases, Various Artists releases, and some alternate versions (acoustic, karaoke, live). Remixes do qualify.
- July 2026 update: listeners can now filter Release Radar by genre, "Discover new artists," "Editors' picks," and more. Strong genre metadata and real engagement matter more than ever.
What is Spotify Release Radar?
Release Radar is a personalized playlist of new releases that refreshes every Friday. Each listener gets a different version. According to Spotify, it pulls new music from three pools:
- Artists the listener follows
- Artists the listener listens to
- Other artists Spotify thinks they'll like
Spotify's July 10, 2026 announcement says Release Radar reaches "nearly 9 million listeners every single week." For an independent artist, the important thing is that the first pool, your followers, is the one you control most directly.
How do I get my song on my followers' Release Radar?
Pitch the song in Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release. Spotify's pitching page says that if you pitch an unreleased song at least 7 days ahead, "we'll add it to your followers' Release Radar playlists."
Step-by-step
- Upload to your distributor early. Aim for 3-4 weeks before release so the release shows up in Spotify for Artists well before the 7-day cutoff. (Our DistroKid vs TuneCore vs CD Baby comparison covers delivery times.)
- Log in at artists.spotify.com and go to Music → Upcoming.
- Choose your focus song and fill in the pitch form. You can only pitch one song at a time.
- Submit at least 7 days before release day. Earlier is safer. Deliveries can take time to appear.
- On release day, check Music → Playlists for that song. If it's in your followers' Release Radar, the stats show there.
What if I don't pitch?
Your followers still get a song from the release, but Spotify chooses which one. On an EP or album, that may not be your focus track. Pitching is free and takes about ten minutes, so there's no good reason to skip it.
Which releases are not eligible for Release Radar?
Re-releases, Various Artists compilations, and some alternate versions are excluded. Spotify's rules:
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Songs where you're the main or featured artist | Songs where you're credited only as remixer |
| Remixes | Releases by "Various Artists" |
| New songs | Re-releases of songs already on Spotify |
| Original versions | Some alternate versions (acoustic, karaoke, live) |
Practical implication: don't re-upload an old single to "get it back on Release Radar." It won't qualify, and duplicate uploads can look like spam. Spotify's October 2026 update lists duplicates among the tactics its systems look for.
Why does a follower sometimes not get my song?
A few Release Radar rules can filter your track out for individual listeners. From Spotify's documentation:
- They already heard it. If a listener has streamed the song, Spotify won't add it to their Release Radar (though it may add another song from the release).
- One song per artist per week. If you drop two singles in the same week, each listener gets only one of them.
- Ordering is personalized. Your song might sit at position 28 for one fan and position 3 for another, based on release date and predicted taste.
This is also why releasing singles a few weeks apart works better than dumping several tracks on one Friday. Each spaced release is a fresh Release Radar opportunity, and a song can sit there for up to 4 weeks for anyone who hasn't heard it.
What changed in Release Radar in July 2026?
Spotify added session controls to the top of Release Radar on July 10, 2026. According to Spotify's newsroom post, listeners can now "narrow in on a specific genre, focus exclusively on new-to-you artists, or only serve up other personalized options." They choose from up to five options, such as "Discover new artists," "Editors' picks," and genre chips like "Pop." Spotify also said it made recommendations "sharper" and refreshed the artwork. The controls rolled out on mobile and desktop.
What the July 2026 change means for artists
Spotify didn't publish artist-side guidance on how the filters choose tracks, so these are reasonable implications, not confirmed mechanics:
- Genre accuracy matters. If a listener taps a genre chip, a track Spotify associates with the wrong genre is less likely to show up. Choose genres and moods in your pitch form that honestly describe the song.
- "Discover new artists" is a new surface for small artists. It focuses on artists that are new to that listener, which is the non-follower pool.
- Followers are still the base. The follower pool hasn't gone away. Growing followers is still the most reliable way to grow Release Radar reach.
How do I get more followers so Release Radar reaches more people?
Ask directly, link directly, and give people a reason to follow. Spotify says it notifies followers about new releases and features you in their personalized sections (Promoting music on Spotify).
Follower-growth checklist
- Put a Spotify follow link, not just a song link, in your bio links.
- Set up a pre-save campaign. Many pre-save tools can also follow your profile when a fan opts in.
- Say "follow on Spotify so you get it in your Release Radar Friday" in teaser posts. It's a concrete reason fans understand.
- Add a follow call-to-action to your email list welcome sequence.
- Keep your artist profile clean and claimed so fans follow the right "you."
Can I pay to get on Release Radar?
No. There is no paid placement for Release Radar. Spotify states clearly that third-party services offering guaranteed streams or playlist placement for money break its terms and can get your music removed. Spotify's own paid tools, like Marquee, Showcase, and Discovery Mode, are separate products. None of them is a Release Radar placement.
Release Radar timeline for your next single
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks out | Deliver to distributor; set release date |
| 3 weeks out | Confirm the release appears in Spotify for Artists → Upcoming |
| 2-3 weeks out | Submit pitch for your focus song |
| 7 days out (hard deadline) | Last safe moment for Release Radar inclusion via pitch |
| Release Friday | Check Playlists tab; post "it's in your Release Radar" to fans |
| Weeks 1-4 | Keep promoting. The song can stay in non-listeners' Release Radar for up to 4 weeks |
Use our free release checklist to track every step.
FAQ
Does Release Radar only update on Fridays?
Spotify says Release Radar "updates every Friday." Spotify also notes that personalization can make slightly different recommendations from day to day, but the order mostly stays the same through the week.
Is pitching for Release Radar the same as pitching to editors?
It's the same form. One pitch puts your song in front of Spotify's editors for consideration and, if submitted 7+ days early, guarantees it goes to your followers' Release Radar. Editorial placement is never guaranteed; the follower delivery is.
Can my song be in Release Radar if I'm only featured?
Yes. Spotify includes songs where you're the main or featured artist. You can't pitch songs you're only featured on, though, so the main artist's team controls that pitch.
Will a remix get on Release Radar?
Yes. Spotify includes remixes. Acoustic, karaoke, and live versions may be excluded.
How do I know if my song made Release Radar?
In Spotify for Artists, open the song's stats and check the Playlists tab. Release Radar stats appear there when your song has been added.