Spotify Discovery Mode

What is Spotify Discovery Mode?

Spotify Discovery Mode is a promotional tool that lets you signal to Spotify which of your tracks you'd most like to grow. When a track is in Discovery Mode, Spotify is more likely to surface it in its personalized recommendation contexts - Radio, Autoplay, and Spotify Mixes - to listeners who don't already follow you.

There is no upfront cost and no advertising budget. Turning on Discovery Mode increases the likelihood (but does not guarantee) that a song reaches new listeners in those contexts. It is a way to put your catalogue in front of potential fans algorithmically rather than paying for ads.

How much does it cost? The 30% commission

Discovery Mode is not a flat fee. Instead, Spotify applies a 30% commission to the recording royalties earned from streams that come through Discovery Mode contexts (Radio, Autoplay, Mixes, and the related track URIs).

• The 30% only applies to the extra, algorithmically-promoted streams generated through Discovery Mode.
• All other streams stay commission-free - normal plays, playlist adds, and listens from people who searched for you are unaffected and pay your usual rate.
• You only "pay" when Discovery Mode actually delivers you streams you would likely not have earned otherwise. If it delivers nothing, it costs you nothing.

Because of Spotify's standard reporting delay, any deduction for a given month's Discovery Mode streams typically appears on a later sales report rather than immediately.

How InterSpace handles Discovery Mode (important)

To make sure our artists benefit from this free promotion, InterSpace enrolls your eligible releases in Spotify Discovery Mode by default. You do not need to do anything to take part - if a track meets Spotify's eligibility rules, our system can submit it for you automatically.

This is an opt-out program. If you would prefer that your music is not included in Discovery Mode, you simply need to send us a request (see below). Until you do, your eligible tracks may be promoted through Discovery Mode and the 30% commission may apply to streams earned that way.

How to opt out

You can opt out at any time, on a rolling monthly basis. To do so, send us a request:

1. Submit a ticket from the Help Center, or email support@interspacemusic.com.
2. State clearly that you want to opt out of Spotify Discovery Mode, and include the artist name (and specific releases, if you only want certain ones excluded).
3. We'll confirm once your account has been removed from the program.

Timing matters. Spotify builds each month's campaigns at the start of that month. To be sure your tracks are excluded from the next month's campaign, send your opt-out request before the 12th of the current month. For example, to be excluded from the June campaign, request opt-out before May 12th. You can opt back in the same way at any time.

Eligibility requirements

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a track will be selected - Spotify makes the final decision - but a track must meet all of them to even be considered:

1. The track is distributed through InterSpace.
2. You are credited as a main / primary artist (or as the remixer) on the track.
3. The track has been live on Spotify for at least 30 days.
4. The track has recent activity in personalized contexts - it has been streamed in Radio / Autoplay contexts within the last 28 days.
5. The track met Spotify's normal monetization eligibility in the prior month.

In addition, Spotify generally limits Discovery Mode to artist teams in supported countries with an active Spotify for Artists account, and to artists who have built up some baseline of monthly listeners. Tracks that have been taken down, rejected, or flagged are never eligible.

Can I choose which tracks are used?

Track selection is handled automatically. When your account is opted in, all of your eligible tracks are considered, and selection technology picks the songs with the best chance of performing well in Discovery Mode based on streaming data. When you opt out, none of your tracks are considered. You can opt out of the whole program, but not micro-manage individual tracks in or out of the algorithmic selection.

Is Discovery Mode right for me?

• Good for: catalogue tracks and older releases that have stopped growing, artists who want algorithmic reach without an ad budget, and anyone comfortable trading a slice of the new streams for more of them.
• Think twice if: you rely on every cent of royalties from your biggest songs, since the 30% reduces the rate on Discovery-driven streams of those tracks specifically.

If you're unsure, you can leave the default in place and review how your selected tracks perform, then opt out later if it isn't working for you.

Related help

See also What Marketing Support Does InterSpace Offer? and How to Promote Your Music on Playlist Curation Platforms.