Spotify Discovery Mode: A Quick Overview
Looking for increased exposure on Spotify and a better chance of being featured in official playlists? Spotify now offers the opportunity to automatically and more reliably boost exposure in specific algorithmic playlists for specific tracks, but this comes at a price: a royalty rate deduction of 30% for Discovery Mode powered plays.
Extra Exposure & How It Works
Tracks with Discovery Mode enabled appear earlier in select algorithmic playlists, increasing chances of getting played. Discovery Mode does NOT automatically add tracks to playlists, but the increase in plays can boost your chances of other playlist placements in the future!
For the avoidance of doubt, enabling Discovery Mode on a track does not automatically add it to the supported list of algorithmic playlists below. Instead, it means that if the track was going to be featured in that playlist already, it will now be prioritized and appear higher up in the list -- increasing the chances it will be heard.
What algorithmic playlists currently support Discovery Mode?
*Note: Spotify Radio and Autoplay start playing after the last song in a release or when listeners ask Spotify to create a radio station based on a track, artist, or release.
To learn more about Discovery Mode from Spotify, check their overview here.
How does the 30% royalty deduction work?
Enabling Discovery Mode reduces royalties by 30% for plays in participating playlists. (See the list of playlists above.)
The deduction in earnings does NOT apply to plays from other sources like release pages, artist charts, human-curated playlists, search results, or user's own libraries.
The deduction impacts the payout for all involved: the original artists, remix artists, music label, and distributor.
What tracks are eligible for Discovery Mode?
Not all songs are eligible for Discovery Mode. Here's how eligibility works!
The track has been out for at least 1 month.
The track has at least 1 play in Spotify Radio or Auto Play last month.
All the track’s collaborating original artists, remixers, and music labels have agreed to participate in Discovery Mode and the 30% decrease in royalty payouts.