We've just rolled out an exciting new feature for all Songtools users: Playlisting Passes. These passes make it easier and more affordable than ever to run long-term playlisting campaigns for the tracks you care about most. By extending your campaign duration, your music has more time to gain real traction, build momentum, and reveal how listeners are truly responding.
Since it's the season of giving, we're breaking down everything you need to know about Playlisting Passes including how they work, how to use them strategically, and how they can even double as thoughtful gift cards for fellow artists. Keep reading for all the key details and insights to help you decide if a Playlisting Pass is right for you!
How does a Playlisting Pass work?
A Playlisting Pass is a discounted campaign credit that lets you promote one specific song over an extended period of time. Once applied, the pass is locked to that track, so it's best used for a release you're confident in and ready to push long term.
We currently offer three Playlisting Pass options, each designed to give your music more time to build momentum while saving you money:
- 14-day Playlisting Pass — $119 (save $21)
- 30-day Playlisting Pass — $225 (save $75)
- 90-day Playlisting Pass — $330 (save $570)
Each pass secures a long-term PlaylisterClub campaign for your chosen track at a lower overall cost compared to our standard $10/day campaigns. If you already know you're planning to run a longer or auto-renewing campaign, especially for a new release, a Playlisting Pass is a simple way to lock in that timeline while maximizing savings.
Why Long-Term Playlisting Matters
PlaylisterClub is built around real, organic curation, which means every playlist add comes from an actual curator discovering your song, listening to it, and deciding on their own that it belongs in their playlist. This process isn't instant—playlisters need time to encounter your track in their feeds, engage with it, and respond naturally, which is why many songs are picked up later in a campaign rather than right away.
Running a longer campaign gives your music the space it needs to be discovered properly. Instead of relying on quick bursts of attention, extended playlisting increases your song's chances to gain momentum, reach new listeners, and show consistent engagement over time. For strong tracks, this approach often leads to better, more meaningful results and a clearer understanding of how your track is resonating with playlisters and real audiences.
How to Purchase and Launch A Playlisting Pass
STEP 1: Purchase Your Playlisting Pass
There are currently two ways to purchase a Playlisting Pass on Songtools.
Option 1 (not tied to a specific song):
- Visit our Playlisting Pass page, select the pass that best fits your goals, and click "Buy Now": https://www.songtools.io/promotions/plcpass
- This option lets you purchase a Playlisting Pass without linking it to a song right away. You can use this pass for your own music later, or gift it to another artist so they can redeem it for any track they choose.
Option 2 (from your Songtools dashboard):
- If you're already logged into your Songtools account, you can purchase a Playlisting Pass directly from the "Start" page of any track's dashboard.
- If you're purchasing from a specific song's "Start" page, use the "Activate Now" toggle at checkout to choose whether the pass applies to that track or is saved for later.
STEP 2: Decide when to activate your Playlisting Pass
If you're purchasing your Playlisting Pass from the "Start" page in your Songtools dashboard, you'll see an "Activate Now" toggle during checkout.
It should look something like this:
- Keep it ON and the pass is applied to that track immediately, so the PlaylisterClub campaign begins immediately.
- Turn it OFF and you'll receive a special code by email that can be gifted or used for any track later on.
If you want your Playlisting Pass to stay flexible and not tied to a specific song, make sure you either:
- Purchase it directly from the Playlisting Pass page here or
- Turn OFF "Activate Now" during checkout when buying from your dashboard
Choose the option that matches your campaign timing or whether you plan to gift the Playlisting Pass.
STEP 3: Complete your purchase
- Once you've selected your activation preference, complete the checkout.
- Each Playlisting Pass purchase comes with a unique discount code sent to you by email.
STEP 4: Launch your campaign
- If "Activate Now" was kept ON, your PlaylisterClub campaign will launch immediately. The "Start" page for that track will now look something like this:
- If "Activate Now" was turned OFF, a special discount code for your Playlisting Pass will be sent to you by email. Check your inbox and save this code—you'll need it to start your campaign.
- When you're ready to redeem this code and launch a campaign:
- Search for the song you want to promote.
- Open the song's "Start" page.
- Click on "Have a Pre-Paid Playlisting Pass? Redeem using code."
- Enter the discount code you received by email and launch your campaign.
To redeem your Playlisting Pass at a later time, click here in your dashboard to enter your discount code:
After your campaign launches
Once your Playlisting Pass is active, there's nothing additional to manage. Playlisting Passes are one-time purchases:
- They do not auto-renew
- They run for the full duration of the pass
- They automatically end once the campaign timeline is complete
You can simply let the campaign run and focus on making edits or tracking results.
How to Use A Playlisting Pass as a Gift Card
When purchasing a Playlisting Pass for someone else, make sure the "Activate Now" option at checkout is always turned OFF.
- After completing the purchase, you'll receive an email with a unique discount code linked to the pass.
- Forward this email or share this code with the person you'd like to gift the Playlisting Pass to.
How the recipient redeems their code:
- Log in to their Songtools account.
- Search for the song they want to promote and open its "Start" page.
- Click on "Have a Pre-Paid Playlisting Pass? Redeem using code."
- Enter the discount code to launch the campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Real playlisting success takes time. Because PlaylisterClub relies on genuine, curator-driven discovery, longer campaigns give quality songs the time they need to be found, evaluated, and added naturally.
- Planning ahead beats short-term testing. Playlisting Passes reward artists who commit to a release they believe in, helping shift promotion from week-to-week decisions to a more intentional, long-term strategy.
- Consistency creates clearer results. Extended campaigns don't just increase exposure, they provide better insight into how a track is truly resonating with curators and listeners over time.
- Promotion can now be shared! With the option to delay activation and gift a pass, Playlisting Passes can support collaboration, community, and thoughtful giving for the artists in your life.
FAQ's
Q: Can I use a Playlisting Pass for older releases?
Yes. While Playlisting Passes are great for new releases, they can also be effective for catalog tracks that still feel relevant, underexposed, or newly optimized (for example, after updated artwork, metadata, or strategy).
Q: Will a Playlisting Pass guarantee playlist adds?
No, there are no guarantees and that's intentional. Playlist adds are determined entirely by a playlister's personal choice and taste. The value of a Playlisting Pass is in creating the right conditions for organic discovery to happen over time.
Q: Can I activate a Playlisting Pass before my song is live on streaming platforms?
No, Playlisting Passes can only be activated once your song is live on Spotify, since all Songtools promotion tools are designed for post-release campaigns. However, you can purchase a Playlisting Pass ahead of time and save it for later, then activate it as soon as your track is officially released.
Playlisting has never been about instant results. It's about giving your music the space to be discovered, considered, and supported by real people. We created Playlisting Passes to support that mindset, making long-term promotion more accessible, intentional, and flexible.
If you, or an artist you know, are ready to commit to a track, this is the best way to plan and promote for the long-term with purpose. Visit our Playlisting Pass page HERE!
