Clarification on Spotify Terms for Curator Review Platforms

[futuresishere]

Hello!
I'm planning to create a website where artists can submit their music to playlist curators for review, in exchange for a small fee paid by the artist. My question is: would this violate Spotify's terms and policies?

I've noticed that platforms like Groover, SubmitHub, and DailyPlaylists or PlaylistPush (which even uses the Spotify API) allow artists to pay per submission to curators. From what I understand, Spotify only prohibits payment if curators guarantee playlist placement. But what about a model that only offers reviews, with no promise of inclusion? Would that be compliant?

[Ximzend]

Hi @futuresishere 

Just a quick heads-up about the Spotify terms:

• You can’t offer or accept any kind of payment for playlist placement.
• You also can’t use Spotify’s API or tools to build services that promise exposure or placement in exchange for money.

To stay on the safe side and remain compliant, it’s important to steer clear of anything that might go against either of these terms.

Let me know if you have any questions—I’m happy to help!

[futuresishere]

Even if a platform charges a fee just for a curator’s feedback, without any guarantee of placement? I noticed that PlaylistPush uses the Spotify API and still requires payment. So what’s the deal here? These platforms don’t explicitly promise placement, but they let artists pay to submit their music to curators.

It seems the key distinction is in the wording - terms like 'guaranteed' or 'promised.' Platforms like these appear to navigate the rules by presenting the system as a review process, where placement is a possibility, not a guarantee. Is this actually allowed?

[Ximzend · Accepted solution]

Hi @futuresishere 

Even giving the option of placement is prohibited.