Create the playlist you'll keep coming back to by following these steps and helpful tips using the most popular streaming services like Apple Music, and Spotify, and more.
1. Determine the purpose of your playlist.
When will it be played? Why? Who is the audience? What mood will you be in and what will this playlist satisfy? These are fundamental questions that will determine your choice of songs, their order, and their overall impact on you and your listeners. Take a moment to decide what impression you want this playlist to have.
2. Explore and discover new music.
If you predetermined songs to include, they serve as great starting points. Add them to your list, then do some digging.
Streaming services provide a lot of useful information that make discovering new music easy. Popular streaming services are Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Napster.
Visit the artist's pages
Look up the page of an artist that appears on your playlist. Streaming services have comprehensive catalogs that are easy to navigate, but this information can also be found using a search engine.
Also try listening to the artist's top hits; popularity is determined by what listeners are drawn to. Perhaps their audience share the same love for aspects in their music.
Listen to the album from the song you added
They often share qualities you enjoy.
More tips using streaming services:
Spotify will suggest songs underneath your playlist based on the songs you've already added.
If you're under an artist's page, check out Spotify's has a "Fans Also Like" list and Apple Music's "Similar Artists" list
Listen to the radio. I found lots of new music on Pandora radio. Its free, and you can find new music based on genres, artists, and songs you already enjoy.
3. Add whatever pleases your ears.
Add everything you like. You can weed through them later. It's also worth noting that short playlists have a time and place, so don't be afraid to keep it exclusive.
4. Arrange. Order matters!
Shuffle is great, but a well-developed playlist will be thorough. Playlists can serve as an emotional journey, which shouldn't be taken for granted. They can tell stories. Also consider your transitions; ask yourself how a song ends and how well it sets up the next song. We don't want anything coming out of left field.
Dramatic changes in key signature, tempo, and mood can be off-putting. Try and keep these minimal, or find a way to have them complement each other. The playlist should make sense and be easy to follow.
Keep in mind step 1. What is the purpose of this playlist, when will you be playing it, for whom? This can also serve as a guide when arranging songs.
Pro tips to arranging your best playlist:
On Spotify and Apple Music, enable songs to crossfade into each other. This will apply to all songs in library, not just the playlist. You can even set the rate.
Edit > Preferences > Playback > Check "Crossfade Songs"
On Apple Music, you can set a song's start and end times. This can be a creative way to transition and tell a story. Note that this will be abrupt if you don't enable crossfading.
Right Click Song > Song Info > Options
5. Name your masterpiece.
Something short and descriptive will give the playlist the extra character that will keep you coming back. If this playlist is for others, it will help them find it or encourage them to listen.
Here is an example that follows these basic guidelines.
When it comes down to it, the playlist is yours to enjoy. It is the product of whatever you desire, so have fun and get creative! If you ever need help or want to upgrade your playlists, just refer back to keep these tips.
Share your favorite playlists in the comments, and let me know if you have any song recommendations for the one I shared.
Happy listening!
