👀 Inside Stories: How Listafina Became Some Of The Most Eclectic Playlists On Spotify
a nice, relaxed chat about the playlisting game and about the world of music in 2022 with Romain, the curator behind the successful NOVA 2022 playlist.
Although it may seem like a light hobby for the weekends, curating music as a record selector is a full time job that would require countless hours of digging through an infinite ocean of music. Yet, as long as there is passion, there is satisfaction.
For those seaching for financial satisfaction out of their music curating efforts, managing Spotify playlists turned into a business. As a result, finding good music for these playlists became a secondary task, shadowed by the continuous hunt for more followers and more ways to market and monetize their effort.
The question remains: is there still passion for music among the Spotify playlisters? Yes, there is: the answer came from the sunny coasts of Spain, where Romain, an electronic music producer and DJ, is curating one of the most eclectic playlists on Spotify: NOVA 2022
It all started in 2020, when the pandemic pushed Romain to reinvent himself, so he launched Listafina, an alter ego used to manage playlists on Spotify. Now Nova 2022, the playlist inspired by the French based Radio Nova, counts over 7,000 followers and it is as alive as in the first day. Curious about the work behind such a successful playlist, we sat down for a chat with Romain about the challenges encountered by a digital music curator and about the music scene as he sees it in 2022.
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Since when is music an integral part of your life?
Since 2005, when I started to learn DJ-ing and started mixing for parties with friends, then in bars and discotheques. I quickly felt that it was going to be part of my life, part of my daily life, both personal and professional.
How did you end up becoming a music curator?
It’s especially during the pandemic situation, since the beginning of 2020, before I made playlists to mix in gigs / parties. But since the world stopped (during the first lock-down), I tried to reinvent myself as quickly as possible and so I launched Listafina to create eclectic playlists for everyone and support emerging talents.
What drives you to curating music platlists? What’s your motivation?
Since I’ve been a DJ, I’ve always been curious to discover new artists / new musical styles. Always be up to date and do not lose any news / update from an artist… I do this automatically and out of obligation because I am DJ originally.
Can playlisting be a full-time job? Is it for you?
Yes, even if it does not appear. It takes a lot of time to explore on websites / music platforms and listen to all the songs that we received / New release etc.
How can you sustain yourself, financially, from doing playlists? In order to keep doing this as a professional activity…
Like I said before, I’m a DJ, so i have some gigs every week-end. There are fewer events since the pandemic but I continue. And I also give reviews to emerging artists on platforms like Groover and SoundCampaign.
One track that perfectly describes the sound of your playlist
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What are you looking for in a track to add it to your playlist?
Lots of originality, talent and ideas. I like artists who dare to try new things, to mix genres, cultures and eras.
Your biggest playlist is called Nova 2022: Best Of Radio. What is the connection between your playlist and Radio Nova France?
It’s a french radio station that I’ve been listening for almost 20 years, and I’ve always appreciated their selection, which has accompanied me since I was a teenager. One day, I decided to put their best song on the same Spotify playlist, to listen to them whenever I want and without ads and that’s how this Playlist was born.
What tools and methods do you use to discover new music?
I listen to Radio Nova a lot, I listen to others too, from USA and UK, and webradio too like: Poolsuite FM or Radio Meuh, I explore many DJ sites and digital magazines and many other Spotify playlist and DJ charts. The Groover and Soundcampain sites I mentioned above also help me find new talent.
What does a good song pitch mean to you when you are approached by artists?
Before listening it’s first the name (of the artist / band), then the artwork that means a lot to me, then the description and biography. I like to read all this before pressing “play” button but it’s true that these details are important to me (especially the artwork) which reflects the universe of the artist (and his single / album).
How many daily submissions do you receive and how do you handle all this volume?
If we count platforms like Groover and Soundcampaign about 12-15 per day and Fridays until 20 (day when new releases come out on Spotify).
What is your strategy to grow the number of followers / subscribers for your playlists? Organically, paid…
I try to have social networks (instagram) always up to date and I pay ads on Facebook and Instagram to invite potential listeners to subscribe on our playlists.
Are you building or have you considered building a record label around your playlist activity?
Yes, I’m checking it but it’s not my priority for now.
One track that was submitted to you and fits the playlist just perfect
Would it be better for the industry (not just for you) if Spotify and other platforms allow charging for playlist placement? Who would this benefit mostly? The big spenders or the quality?
I think it will destroy the Spotify platform and especially the artists who have just started without too much $. We would just end up with the artists and record companies who have big budget and therefore also less quality.
Do you think that having a song placed into independent playlists helps to trigger Spotify’s algorithms in any way, just to push it maybe into Discover Weekly or other algorithmic playlist?
Yeah, I think if a good song which gets a lot of succes hits and streams, the algorithms should be identified and then get to editorial playlists. I can’t prove it but I guess Spotify’s algorithms are ready and set for it. Otherwise, they would lack a lot of good music that received great acclaim.
How do you feel about DSPs algoritmic playlists. Is it fair competition?
Not really because it does not favor artists who have just started in the world of music. In addition, we have seen that it was easy to have many subscribers or more streams by paying bots. This way just helps the artists who have the most budget and don’t seem to be fair and not ready to me yet.
How do you feel about major labels playlist operations (Warner, Sony, Digster)?. Is it a fair competition against independent playlists? Is this (placement of own label content) a masked form of monetising playlists?
It doesn’t really suit me because their artists and music style are more: Commercial - Mainstream. This is another market that I’m not very interested in. I don’t really know what their playlist contains but I imagine that it must be the showcase of their artists that they sign - released.
Apart from this, what do you do for a living?
I am a music (electronic producer) and DJ also on weekends and soon i will be father (haha).
One track that your playlist helped to becoming more popular