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Jan 23, 2026

Legit Playlist Service RED and Green Flags

By SongRocket

Legit Playlist Service RED and Green Flags

How to Identify a Legit Playlist Service

How do you know if a playlist service is legitimate? Here are the green flags and red flags to watch for.

· 5 min read

With hundreds of playlist promotion services flooding the market, it's increasingly difficult to separate the legitimate services from the scams that could get your Spotify account flagged. Choosing the wrong service doesn't just waste your money—it can result in removed streams, algorithmic penalties, or even account termination.

Here's how to identify a legit playlist pitching service and protect your music career.

Quick Checklist

A legitimate playlist service should: be transparent about results, vet their curators, charge for pitching (not streams), and comply with Spotify's Terms of Service.

Green Flags: Signs of a Legitimate Service

Transparent About Not Guaranteeing Placements

Legitimate services pitch your music to curators—they don't guarantee results. If a service promises specific placement numbers, that's a major red flag.

Manual Curator Vetting Process

Quality services verify each curator to ensure playlists have real, organic followers—not bots or fake accounts that could harm your streams.

Payment for Reviews, Not Streams

You're paying curators to listen and consider your track—not paying per stream. This model complies with Spotify's guidelines.

Real Company Information and Support

Look for a registered business, physical address, and responsive customer support. Legitimate companies are transparent about who they are.

Positive Reviews From Verified Users

Check Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and social media for authentic testimonials from real artists who've used the service.

Compliant With Spotify's Terms of Service

The service openly states they follow platform guidelines and don't use bots, fake streams, or payola schemes.

Red Flags: Warning Signs of a Scam

Guarantees Streams or Placements

"Get 10,000 streams guaranteed!" or "100% placement rate!" are major red flags. Real curators decide what goes on their playlists—no one can guarantee outcomes.

Unusually Cheap Prices

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. "$5 for 50,000 streams" means bots, fake accounts, or stream farms that will get your music removed.

No Curator Vetting

Services that accept any playlist without verification often work with fake or bot-inflated playlists that provide zero real value.

Promises Editorial Playlist Placement

No third-party service can guarantee placement on Spotify's official editorial playlists. Anyone claiming otherwise is lying.

No Refund or Support Policy

Scam services often have no way to contact them and no refund policy. Once they have your money, they disappear.

Anonymous or Offshore Company

No company address, hidden ownership, or registration in obscure jurisdictions are signs they're trying to avoid accountability.

Legit vs. Scam Services: Quick Comparison

Feature Legit Service Scam Service
Placement Guarantees No guarantees "100% guaranteed"
Pricing Fair, transparent Too cheap to be real
Curator Quality Manually vetted No verification
Payment Model Pay for pitching Pay per stream
Company Info Registered, transparent Anonymous, hidden
Spotify Compliance Follows TOS Violates guidelines
All Green Flags Checked

SongRocket Has Been Operating Legitimately Since 2020

Registered in Switzerland (CHE-137.124.111) with 1,400+ vetted curators, 31.2M+ follower reach, and a 35% approval rate. Real pitching. Real results.

Start Your Campaign →

Frequently Asked Questions

Are playlist promotion services legal?

Yes, legitimate playlist promotion services are legal. The key is that you're paying for curators to review and consider your music—not paying for guaranteed streams or placements. Services like SongRocket operate within Spotify's Terms of Service.

Can I get banned from Spotify for using a playlist service?

You can get banned if you use services that provide fake streams, bot plays, or pay-per-stream schemes. However, legitimate pitching services that connect you with real curators do not violate Spotify's guidelines and are safe to use.

How can I tell if a playlist has fake followers?

Look for these warning signs: very high follower counts with very low monthly listeners on tracks, no engagement (saves, shares), generic playlist names, and tracks with suspiciously identical stream counts. Legitimate services like SongRocket vet playlists to filter these out.

What should I pay for playlist pitching?

Legitimate playlist pitching services typically charge between $20-$300+ per campaign depending on reach and curator network size. Be wary of services charging just a few dollars for thousands of "guaranteed" streams—those are almost always scams.

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