Playlisting

Playlisting is the practice of creating and organizing lists of musical tracks or other media items intended for continuous playback. Playlists are used on streaming services, media players, and radio formats to provide curated listening experiences and a mechanism for content discovery.

On music platforms, playlisting generally falls into three categories: user-generated playlists created by listeners; editorial or platform-curated playlists selected by staff or automated systems; and algorithmic playlists produced by recommendation engines based on listening history and signal data. Playlists can be themed by genre, mood, activity, or occasion, and may range from short mixes to long-form programs.

Curation and sequencing are central to playlisting. Curators select tracks to fit a defined theme or flow, considering factors such as tempo, energy, key, transitions, and narrative progression. Sequencing aims to maintain listener engagement from start to finish, and playlist metadata, track length, and release timing can influence selection and placement.

Influence and metrics are important in the industry. Inclusion on prominent playlists can significantly increase streams, saves, and new listeners, potentially affecting chart performance and royalties. Pitching processes vary by platform but commonly involve submitting music for editorial consideration with accompanying release plans and metadata.

Criticism and challenges include concerns about gatekeeping by a small number of editors, potential homogenization of sound, and overreliance on algorithmic recommendations. The prominence of playlisting can shape discovery patterns and artist exposure, sometimes prioritizing playlist placements over other promotional approaches.