- 04 November 2024
- by Andrej Fedek
- Blog, Business
- 0 Comments
The music industry has transformed (and is still changing) dramatically in recent years, and at the heart of this revolution is Spotify. For artists, getting discovered on Spotify isn’t just about having great music—it’s about playing the game of visibility, algorithms, and momentum which equals all into marketing. Yep, you need to be an all-craft-master nowadays to get noticed, or a realy huge budget. But the real key to unlocking that success? Organic plays.
While some might think that paid streams or bots can offer a shortcut, the truth is, organic plays are where real growth happens. Services like PopularityBazaar offer a smart way for artists to kickstart this process. When you buy Spotify plays through their organic play services, you’re not just stacking up numbers—you’re helping your music get in front of real listeners, which triggers Spotify’s algorithm and leads to genuine artist discovery.
Organic plays are the hidden gems of Spotify’s ecosystem. They’re the currency of trust between artists and their listeners, proving that the music resonates with real people. And when Spotify’s algorithm sees organic engagement, it rewards you with more visibility through playlist placements and recommendations. So, if you’re an artist looking to break through, organic plays aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re a must.
How Organic Plays Set the Algorithm in Motion
Organic plays are the backbone of Spotify’s artist discovery process. Think about it: when your track starts gaining real traction—listeners sharing it, saving it to their playlists, and looping it on repeat—it starts a snowball effect. The more organic plays you get up, the more visibility your music receives, which leads to even more listeners discovering your tracks.
In fact, about 50% of all streams on Spotify come from its algorithmic recommendations. That’s a huge deal. It means half of the music being played on the platform is being pushed to users because the system sees potential in those songs. But Spotify doesn’t just recommend tracks randomly. It’s looking at engagement, at how real listeners are interacting with your music. Are they listening on repeat? Are they saving it? That’s what triggers the algorithm to push your song out to more listeners, whether it’s through Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or even genre-based playlists. Now you might think: okay, I get that – but how to break through that initial wall each new tune is facing? Let’s see how these guys done it.
From Unknown to Success: The Journey of Tom Rosenthal
Take the example of Tom Rosenthal, a British singer-songwriter who started releasing music independently. Without a major label backing him, Rosenthal relied on building real connections with his audience through platforms like Spotify. One of his most popular tracks, “It’s OK”, has over 80 million streams, and his monthly listeners now exceed 2 million. How did he get there?
Rosenthal’s growth was fueled by organic engagement. His fans shared his music on social media, saved his tracks to personal playlists, and consistently streamed his songs. This steady, organic buzz caught Spotify’s attention, leading to his inclusion in playlists like Chill Vibes and Your Favorite Coffeehouse—playlists that have millions of followers. This helped him gain further traction, showing just how crucial organic plays are for artist discovery on Spotify. So, whereas Spotify isn’t a community hub in itself – it’s often a hot topic by the water cooler in between the fans on other social media channels.
Record Label In Action: Mom+Pop Music’s Strategy
On the flip side, let’s look at Mom+Pop Music, an independent record label that has represented artists like Flume, Courtney Barnett, and Tash Sultana. The label has successfully navigated the Spotify ecosystem by focusing on organic growth and artist engagement. For example, when Tash Sultana’s track “Jungle” started gaining traction, the label didn’t rely on bot streams or quick fixes. Instead, they pushed organic fan engagement, encouraging followers to stream, save, and share the music.
The results? Tash Sultana now has over 1 billion streams on Spotify, and the track “Jungle” alone has racked up more than 300 million plays. This growth was driven by fans’ organic interaction with the music, which helped land Sultana on some of Spotify’s most influential playlists like New Music Friday and Ultimate Indie. This is a prime example of how even labels are leveraging organic plays for long-term success rather than quick, artificial boosts.
In Tash Sultana’s own words, “It’s the people who listen and share the music that make the real difference. I don’t make music for algorithms, I make music for people.” This quote perfectly reflects the power of organic engagement in an artist’s journey on Spotify. By focusing on connecting with real listeners, Sultana’s career grew through genuine fan support and a tight community across all social media channels.
How to Spark Organic Plays
So, how can you get those organic plays rolling? For starters, consistent engagement with your fans across platforms is key. Whether you’re sharing behind-the-scenes snippets on Instagram or launching a TikTok trend around your latest single, you’ve got to get people genuinely invested in your music. The more you engage with your audience, the more likely they’ll be to listen, share, and boost your streams.
Collaboration is another powerful tool. Teaming up with other artists in your niche for a joint track or playlist swap can expose your music to a whole new audience, driving those precious organic plays.
A Helping Hand Without Losing Your Soul
And while you’re gearing up to build up that organic momentum, sometimes a little help can go a long way. This is where services like PopularityBazaar come in. By offering organic Spotify plays, they help give artists that extra push, ensuring your music gets in front of more ears without sacrificing authenticity. In today’s streaming world, buying organic plays can be the difference between staying in the shadows and being placed in front of Spotify’s discovery spotlight.
Real Growth, Real Fans: The Power of Organic Plays
Organic growth isn’t just about inflating numbers; it’s about building trust with listeners and the platform itself. And when Spotify sees that genuine interest, it rewards you with more opportunities for discovery.
The bottom line? The path to success in Spotify’s ecosystem isn’t just about having a viral moment—it’s about slow, consistent growth through real engagement. That’s where the magic happens. Organic plays lay the foundation for long-term artist discovery, and investing in them means investing in your future as an artist.
Andrej Fedek is the creator and the one-person owner of two blogs: InterCool Studio and CareersMomentum. As an experienced marketer, he is driven by turning leads into customers with White Hat SEO techniques. Besides being a boss, he is a real team player with a great sense of equality.
