Spotify Discovery Mode

WHAT IS SPOTIFY DISCOVERY MODE?

With SDM, artists and labels can prioritize specific songs, and Spotify will use this signal to influence algorithms that determine personalized listening sessions, such as Radio, Autoplay, and Spotify Mixes (known as Discovery Mode contexts). This signal increases the likelihood of selected songs being promoted, but does not guarantee it.

WHY IS DISCOVERY MODE EFFECTIVE?

SDM is based on listeners' tastes, prioritizing music from their listening patterns rather than relying on sponsored promotion. This enhances authentic discovery aligned with genuine preferences. However, it only works if fans love the music, as Spotify tracks listener engagement and incorporates it into future recommendations.

WHAT ARE SPOTIFY’S COMMISSIONS FOR DISCOVERY MODE?

Discovery Mode doesn’t require an upfront budget. When you turn on Discovery Mode for a track, a 30% commission is applied to the recording royalties generated from streams in Discovery Mode contexts. This commission is deducted from your future royalty statements, delivered in a report separate from the standard royalty reports. Any other streams of tracks enrolled in Discovery Mode that occur outside of Discovery Mode contexts will remain commission-free. This structure ensures that clients only pay the increased commission on additional streams, making it a win-win service. Furthermore, Calientalo Media does not charge anything extra for Discovery Mode beyond your usual revenue share.

The program’s main benefit is that it avoids artist eligibility restrictions found on Spotify for Artists, such as needing a minimum of 25,000 listeners and three eligible songs. This means Discovery Mode is available for almost any eligible track in your catalog.

If you want to check if your track is eligible for Discovery Mode, please send us a message.