How to Make a Playlist

February 17, 2021

Switching between Spotify and Apple Music, or from Apple Music to TIDAL, is an experience. And it should be a good one. But with a new streaming service comes a new interface.

Each streaming platform has some variations on its UI. Plus, some offer folder options and others have Liked Songs or Tracks.

Creating the perfect playlist on every platform isn't too hard, though. You can move your playlists between music services quickly with FreeYourMusic (move 100 now for free).

Making a playlist is an excellent way to customize your listening experience and organize your favorite songs.

So when you get your new music app, you'll want to transfer your music (you can do it with FreeYourMusic) or start from scratch.

TLDR: click the link to get the guide for your platform:

  1. How to make a playlist on Spotify
  2. How to make a playlist on Apple Music
  3. How to make a playlist on Pandora
  4. How to make a playlist on SoundCloud
  5. How to make a playlist on YouTube
  6. How to make a VIRAL playlist

How to make a playlist on Spotify

No matter which Spotify subscription you have, you can create playlists.

However, the process is slightly different on the mobile and desktop apps.

How to make a playlist on Spotify desktop app

  • Open the Spotify app and click on “+Create Playlist” on the left sidebar.
  • Give it a name, add some cover some artwork, and a description.
  • Click “Create”. You'll see it appear on the left side.
  • To add a song, drag the track into the list or hover over the song name and click the three dots that appear. Click “Add to playlist” and then select where it should go.

As a premium Spotify user, you can also download your playlist.

If you want to rearrange the songs in the playlist, you can drag them into place. Hold CTRL/CMD to mark several songs and move them in bulk.

As a premium Spotify user, you can also download your playlist.

How to make a playlist on Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android)

  • Open the Spotify app on your device and select “Your Library.”
  • Tap the + on the top right, then tap Playlist.
  • Give it a name and hit Create.
  • To add a song, Go to your playlist, tap on the plus sign in the top corner of your screen, and choose the songs you want to add.
  • OR start by selecting a song you'd like to add –> tap the three-dot menu next to the song -> select Add to playlist -> Choose where you want to add the song to.

If you want to transfer your music, for example, from Spotify to Apple Music or Spotify to YouTube, you can do it with the FreeYourMusic app.

How to make a playlist on Apple Music

You can create song lists using the dektop or mobile app for Apple Music.

How to make a playlist on Apple Music on Mac

  • Open the Apple Music app.
  • In the menu bar, choose File -> New -> Playlist OR select a song you'd like to add -> click the “...” button -> Add to Playlist -> New Playlist.
  • Choose a cool name.
  • To add a song: Drag and drop music to a playlist in the sidebar OR select a song -> click “...” -> Add to a playlist

How to make a playlist on Apple Music mobile app (iOS and Android)

  • Open the Apple Music app.
  • Tap Library (at the bottom of the screen) -> Tap Playlist -> New Playlists -> Give it a name -> Add Music OR Select a song you'd like to add to a playlist -> Tap and hold -> Add to playlist -> New playlist -> Name your playlist -> Search and add another song. Copy the URL or use the share button to share it.

Don’t forget to share your new playlists with friends!

How to make a playlist on Pandora

Only Premium Pandora subscribers can use the create function. Pandora is known for its music stations that suggest music based on what you like and don't like, but you can also create custom playlists.

Pandora has a great “Add Similar Songs” feature to help you add songs that will work with what you are creating.

How to make a playlist on Pandora on desktop

  • Go to Pandora and select My Collection
  • Choose Playlists
  • Tap “+Create Playlist”
  • Add a cool name.
  • To add a song: Use a search bar to find and add the song.

As you add new songs, they will automatically be saved.

How to make a playlist on Pandora mobile app (iOS and Android)

  • Launch Pandora and select My Collection
  • Tap Filter and select Playlists
  • Tap “New Playlist"
  • Give it a name!
  • To add a song: Use a search bar to find and add the song.
  • Hit "Done" to save a playlist.

How to make a playlist on SoundCloud

SoundCloud has a lot of independent music, remixes, covers, and underground tracks that you can't find on other streaming platforms. You can add your favorite songs to a single tracklist.

How to make a playlist on SoundCloud on desktop

  • Open SoundCloud in your web browser
  • Find the song you want to add to the playlist
  • Find the options below the track and click "... More."
  • Click "Create a New Playlist" and name it
  • To add more songs: Follow the same steps but click on "Add to playlist" instead of creating a new one.

How to make a playlist on SoundCloud on mobile app (iOS and Android)

  • Open the Soundcloud app on your device
  • Find the song you want to add to the playlist
  • Find the "..." icon and select "Add to playlist"

On iOS, it will be automatically set to private (you can change it on the playlist page). On Android, you will have the option to set it either to private or public.

How to make a playlist on YouTube

YouTube is not strictly a music streaming service (unlike YouTube Music), but it still gives the option to make playlists, and many artists release their music videos there.

Did you know? You can automatically transfer all your music from Spotify to YouTube to generate music videos for your favorite tracks.

How to make a YouTube playlist on desktop

  • Open YouTube in your web browser
  • Search for the video you want to add to the playlist
  • Click on the Save option (under the video in the right corner).
  • A new box will pop up; click on "Create New Playlist."
  • Name it!
  • Click on "Create" to confirm
  • To add more videos, Click on the Save option and select the playlists to which you want to add the video.

How to make a YouTube playlist on mobile app (iOS and Android)

  • Open the YouTube app on your device
  • Search for the video you want to add to the playlist
  • Click on the Save option (under the video in the right corner).
  • A new box will pop up; click on "Create New Playlist."
  • Name your playlist
  • Click on "Create" to confirm
  • To add more videos, Click on the Save option and select the playlists to which you want to add the video.

How to make a viral playlist

As the creator of a playlist, you make a selection of songs that go well together. However, to stand out, it takes more than that. Music curation is big business, and many people are creating and sharing.

To get into those viral follows and shares, here are some tips.

Keep your audience in mind

Define your audience! Depending on the music genre, figure out who your listeners are (casual, enthusiast, indifferent) and keep it in mind while curating.

The quality of visuals

The first thing people see is visual. Select or create eye-catching covers. Offering a unique visual identity is the best way to stand out and reach your audience. A striking aesthetic builds loyalty and engages your audience.

You can create some cover artwork in seconds with some free professional tools.

Playlist cover photo 1.JPG

Playlist cover 2.JPG

Come up with a clever title

Interesting names are going to matter. We have a great list of names for your music curation efforts: 260+ Playlist Names.

Look for current music curation trends and see what people are sharing. Don't copy them, but use them for some inspiration.

Evoke the right emotion

Emotion is one of the most powerful elements in engaging your playlist's target audience.

Conveying the right emotion at the right time can boost your popularity beyond expectations. As the data shows, the higher the emotional relevance of a piece of content, the more traffic and engagement it will receive.

Why? Music that evokes feelings (for example, joy, solidarity, or sadness) intrigues listeners. Thus, make sure that your playlist has a common emotional relevance. Consistency is key in mood, music genre, artwork, and the music itself.

Viral Playlist - consistent.JPG

Remember about regular updates

Once you have a good track list and you've listened a few times to the flow, you're not finished. Add new songs regularly.

Try to keep it under 100 songs, and create a part two if necessary. But this depends on what type of mood you are trying to create.

Use the right channels

Delivering your content through email marketing and social media platforms can be effective because you will directly deliver your playlist to your subscribers' inboxes.

If you don't use email marketing, you might miss out on the opportunity to promote your content to your loyal audience. While emails give you a profitable channel to deliver your music, you must expand your reach to go viral.

Having accounts on social media platforms will increase your chances!

Facebook and YouTube

Some of the best social media channels for music promotion are Facebook and YouTube. These two websites can really boost your advertising. Post regularly to engage your audience, and remember to share a smart link leading to your tracklist.

When it comes to YouTube, you can create a remarkable music-video playlist using FreeYourMusic software. How? If you have a Spotify playlist (or it can be another music streaming service), you can easily transfer it to YouTube so your followers can both listen to music and watch your collection of videos!

Twitter

Twitter is another great place to share links to your public playlists, but it works much better if you often engage with other music curators on the platform.

Putting a link to a new album in a tweet can pay off!

Reddit threads

Reddit is the perfect place for musicians, music curators, and music lovers. On this website, users create subreddits - categories with their own target topic, where people worldwide can exchange their content and comments.

Reddit allows you to post links to other services and websites and information about your music project. However, there is one condition. First, you must publish about ten posts on the same topic. A great example of music promotion on Reddit is this tracklist for formula1 fans!

Reddit playlist.JPG

Instagram, TikTok

Play with video content to engage TikTok and Instagram users. Create videos, images, and BTS content for your creative process.

TikTok needs music because it makes income, thanks to it! TikTok is a vast promotional machine that can turn any track into a smashing hit. TikTok is famous for its virality, and songs spread faster on TikTok than on YouTube. Many music curators use TikTok to share tracks and gather a music-loving following.

Make your playlist universal with the Smart Links feature!

Use as many music streaming services as you can. This maximizes your chances of getting followers.

  • Spotify,

  • Deezer,

  • Shazam,

  • YouTube Music,

  • TikTok

  • Itunes,

  • Amazon,

  • Tidal,

  • Qobuz,

  • etc.

If you want to easily share your music with just one universal link to multiple streaming services, use SmartLinks!

Within a few minutes, you can transfer your playlist for example, from Spotify to YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Apple Music, and share it!

The SmartLink then can be opened via any music streaming service. The tool also creates a dedicated landing page with an embedded player, so your listeners can also discover your playlist that way.

Smart link for music marketing

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