How to Increase Your Spotify Popularity Score in 2025
If you’re releasing music on Spotify and want the algorithm to start recommending your songs, there’s one metric that matters more than most: your Spotify popularity score.
In this guide, we’ll break down what the Spotify popularity score is, why it’s so important in 2025, and how to increase it effectively without gaming the system.
What Is the Spotify Popularity Score?
The Spotify popularity score is a hidden metric that ranks each track on a scale from 0 to 100. While Spotify doesn’t publicly display this number, it plays a major role in how the platform recommends music.
The score is based on multiple engagement signals, including:
- Total streams
- Save rate
- Repeat listens
- Skip rate
- Playlist adds
- Listener growth over time
Importantly, the popularity score is relative. Spotify compares your track’s performance to others in real time. A score of 50 means your song is performing better than a huge portion of tracks on the platform.
While no one outside Spotify knows the full algorithm, data from independent campaigns suggests that a score of 30 or higher is a key threshold. Once you pass that number, your song becomes more likely to be added to algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Radio.
Why Your Spotify Popularity Score Matters
Your Spotify popularity score directly influences your reach on the platform. It affects whether Spotify’s algorithm sees your track as worth recommending to new listeners.
Here’s what a higher score can impact:
- Placement in algorithmic playlists (Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Daily Mix, etc.)
- Autoplay behavior after your song ends
- Your appearance in Spotify Radio for similar artists
- Your ranking in search and browse categories
In short, a higher Spotify popularity score makes your song more discoverable. It’s like an invisible reputation score that decides whether Spotify helps you grow… or leaves your music buried.
What’s a “Good” Spotify Popularity Score?
Here’s a general breakdown of what different score ranges mean:
- 0–20: Low activity. Likely very few saves or streams. Unlikely to see any algorithmic reach.
- 21–29: Some traction. May be getting streams from social shares or small playlists.
- 30–49: Strong performance. Now in range for algorithmic activity.
- 50–69: Very healthy. High chance of Discover Weekly and Release Radar traction.
- 70+: Viral-level momentum. Likely appearing in multiple algorithmic feeds.
How to Increase Your Spotify Popularity Score
1. Drive Real Engagement Early
Your first 7–14 days after release are critical. Focus on getting real listeners to stream, save, and follow you. Avoid bots, fake playlists, or low-quality promotion tactics – they might temporarily inflate numbers, but they won’t improve your Spotify popularity score.
2. Run Targeted Ads to the Right Listeners
Ads on Meta (Facebook/Instagram) or Spotify can help you reach people who are most likely to engage with your music. Target fans of similar artists, and send traffic directly to your track or smart link.
Strong engagement from these listeners (like saving your track, listening more than once or following you) will boost your score faster than passive plays.
3. Get on Quality Playlists
Playlists can provide the exposure needed to increase your Spotify popularity score, but not all playlists are equal. Look for curated lists with real followers, genre genre alignment and active engagement.
Avoid botted or recycled playlists. Instead, pitch your music to real curators through tools like SubmitHub, Groover or services like Spin Promo. A few high-quality playlist placements can be more valuable than dozens of low-impact ones.
4. Optimize Your Spotify Profile
When new listeners land on your profile, make sure it’s ready to convert. Add a compelling bio, professional photos, and an Artist Pick that drives attention to your latest release.
The easier it is for fans to engage with your profile, the more likely they are to save or follow – both of which increase your popularity score.
5. Encourage Saves and Shares
The save rate is one of the most important factors behind the Spotify popularity score. A high save rate tells the algorithm your track has long-term appeal.
Encourage your fans to save your song, share it with others and add it to their own playlists. These signals carry weight and compound over time.
6. Avoid Fake Streams at All Costs
Buying streams or getting added to fake playlists might boost your play count temporarily, but it kills your engagement metrics. Spotify’s algorithm is smart enough to know when streams are low quality, and it will punish your popularity score as a result.
Always prioritize quality over quantity.
How to Check Your Spotify Popularity Score
You can use our FREE Spotify Popularity Score Checker to find out the popularity score of your songs. This tool pulls data directly from the Spotify API so it’s completely accurate and up-to-date.
Final Thoughts
Your Spotify popularity score is one of the most important hidden signals behind your music’s success on the platform. It influences how far your track travels, who it reaches and whether the algorithm helps you grow.
If you want to increase your score, Spin Promo delivers campaigns specifically designed to increase your engagement and push your Spotify popularity score to the 30+ level organically.
Learn more about Spin Promo here
