Introducing Independent Playlist
Share a Spotify track link, add a genre, and introduce your music to Independent readers. Here is how our new playlist works — and what comes next for the chart.
A new place for independent music
Independent Playlist is now open for track submissions. It is a listening selection on the magazine website, built from music shared by artists and readers and reviewed by our editorial team. You can find it through Playlist in the main menu.
Two fields. One introduction.
To send a track, paste its full Spotify track link and enter one main genre in English. There is no need to create a Spotify account connection or supply a biography. You can choose a suggested genre or type a new one. In this first version, use an open.spotify.com link to a single track; album links, artist links, playlists and shortened links are not accepted.
What happens after you submit
We check that Spotify can verify the track, then place the submission in the editorial review queue. After approval, it appears on the magazine’s playlist with an official Spotify player. The player displays the recording’s information and artwork; playback availability depends on Spotify and your region. Submitting a track does not guarantee inclusion.
The same Spotify track cannot create multiple entries. If your track has already been submitted, the form will tell you rather than adding it again.
Genres grow with the selection
Public genre filters are formed from approved tracks. A genre appears once it has a published track, and its count reflects the approved entries in that genre. Common spelling variants, such as Hip Hop and Hip-Hop, are combined. This keeps discovery clear as the selection grows.
The magazine playlist and Spotify
Independent Playlist is the magazine’s own selection on this website. Sending a link does not automatically add your track to a separate playlist inside Spotify. We use the Spotify player to connect readers with the recording; we do not promise streams, saves or placement in Spotify recommendations.
Next: Independent Chart
We have also published the rules for the planned Independent Chart. The weekly reader-choice Top 20 will be based on valid votes on the magazine website, with equal weight for each accepted vote. Spotify streams, player clicks and page views will not determine positions.
Voting is not open yet. Reader verification, voting and results publishing still need to be implemented and tested. The Chart page explains the planned weekly schedule, eligibility and fair-play rules. We will announce the opening round before voting begins.
Follow Journal Updates
This section will cover new playlist features, chart milestones, changes to participation rules and internal Independent projects. Detailed project introductions remain in Projects; Journal Updates is where we announce what is new and explain how to use it. To send your first track, open Playlist in the menu. To read the chart rules, open Chart.
