Playlist Submissions

 

Reviews continue tomorrow, but I wanted to just make a few suggestions about submissions to the Listening To This Week Playlist. It has become increasingly popular, which is great, but is taking up more and more time, not because of the music as I happily listen to everything, but the time creating it.

There is no angst from here, but I have to create more time for Reviews and so there are some things that have to change to allow that time. I hope this is taken in the spirit that is meant. So much of the work begins after a song is chosen.

I spend so much time searching for Social Media details for the tagging after it is published. So much so, that I have to ask submitters to add any details on submission. If they are easily searchable, I will try to find the relevant information, but if I can't find it, the song will not appear in the tagging.

It has been like this for a while, but last week was the worst with details arriving just in time. There is going to be a change in the social media posting. Looking at individual site posts weekly, there is real confusion including artists that are not on a particular social media site.

So from now on if you are not on any of Facebook, Instagram, Threads or Bluesky, the song will not be listed on the relevant site. It keeps such posts focussed and relevant. I just think it helps the artists more and we are all about helping the artists.

I still get submissions that are on Spotify, a reminder that we don't do Spotify. Which means. I have to make multiple searches or contact the artist about Bandcamp, Soundcloud or You Tube. We use these three because listeners don't have to sign up to listen. 

There is still a lot of submissions that only note Spotify links when they are on the likes of Bandcamp. We have no affinity to Bandcamp, but feel it is the best way for listeners to search an artist's other releases. It is all about getting people to listen and hopefully buy.

I am still surprised to get messages that ask for details of the site after the song has been chosen. The scattergun approach rarely works, a short look at IDHAS would tell you what is likely to be of interest. That should maybe standard for anyone submitting anywhere.

Finally, a reminder that we are an artist orientated site. So it is great to see musicians sharing details of other songs on the playlist if they like them. This works really well as artists have different followers. I, personally, listen to songs that are recommended by people that have covered by IDHAS.

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