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SubmitHub: The Ultimate Guide

Posted by Onassis Krown on
submit hub reviews

The Ultimate Guide on SubmitHub: How to Get the Most Out of the Platform

For independent artists navigating today’s crowded music landscape, getting your song heard by the right ears can feel harder than actually making the music. Between playlist curators, music bloggers, influencers, YouTube channels, TikTok creators, radio stations, and record labels, the opportunities are vast—but access is limited. This is where SubmitHub enters the picture.

SubmitHub has become one of the most widely used and discussed music submission platforms in the independent music ecosystem. Some artists swear by it. Others are frustrated by rejections and short feedback. The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle.

This guide breaks down exactly how SubmitHub works, how to maximize your chances of success, the pros and cons, and the key things you must be aware of before investing your time and money. Whether you’re brand new to music promotion or already running ads and pitching playlists elsewhere, this article will help you decide how SubmitHub fits into your overall strategy—and how to use it intelligently.


What Is SubmitHub and Why It Exists

SubmitHub was created to solve a fundamental problem in the music industry: curators and bloggers were being flooded with emails, and artists had no reliable way to reach them. At the same time, curators were spending hours listening to submissions with no compensation for their time.

SubmitHub formalized this process into a marketplace:

  • Artists submit songs

  • Curators receive credits to review them

  • Feedback is (usually) guaranteed

  • Placement is never guaranteed

The platform now connects artists with:

  • Spotify playlist curators

  • Music bloggers and press outlets

  • YouTube channels

  • TikTok influencers

  • SoundCloud tastemakers

  • Radio programmers

  • Labels and A&R professionals

The key distinction: SubmitHub is not a “pay-for-placement” service. You’re paying for consideration and feedback, not guaranteed exposure.


How SubmitHub Actually Works (Step by Step)

Understanding the mechanics is essential before you spend a single credit.

Creating Your Artist Profile

Once you sign up, you’ll create an artist profile that includes:

  • Artist name and bio

  • Genre tags

  • Location

  • Streaming links (Spotify, SoundCloud, etc.)

  • Social media links

Your profile matters more than many artists realize. Curators can see it. A sloppy or empty profile subconsciously signals low effort—even before they press play.

Uploading Your Song

You don’t upload audio files directly. Instead, you submit links, typically:

  • Spotify (most common)

  • SoundCloud (still popular on SubmitHub)

  • YouTube

Your song must already be released publicly to use most curator opportunities.

Choosing Curators to Pitch

This is where strategy separates amateurs from professionals.

Each curator has:

  • Genre preferences

  • Platform focus (Spotify, blog, YouTube, etc.)

  • Acceptance rates

  • Audience size

  • Feedback quality rating

  • Typical response time

You select exactly who you pitch to. This is not a “spray and pray” system unless you choose to use it that way.

Spending Credits

SubmitHub uses two main types of credits:

Standard Credits

  • Free or purchased

  • No guaranteed feedback

  • Lower priority in curator inboxes

Premium Credits

  • Paid

  • Guaranteed feedback within a set time

  • Higher likelihood your song is actually listened to fully

Most serious users rely primarily on premium credits.

Receiving Feedback or Placement

Outcomes typically fall into three categories:

  1. Rejection with brief feedback

  2. Rejection with detailed feedback

  3. Acceptance (playlist add, blog post, video feature, etc.)

Even with acceptance, results vary widely in terms of streams and long-term impact.


The Real Value of SubmitHub (What It’s Best At)

SubmitHub is not a magic bullet—but it is very good at specific things.

1. Fast Feedback From Industry Ears

One of SubmitHub’s biggest strengths is speed. Instead of waiting weeks or months for email replies, you often receive feedback within days.

This makes it especially valuable for:

  • Testing unreleased or newly released songs

  • Diagnosing why a track isn’t connecting

  • Improving future releases

Think of SubmitHub as market research for your music, not just promotion.

2. Access to Curators You Couldn’t Reach Otherwise

Many curators on SubmitHub:

  • Do not list contact emails publicly

  • Ignore unsolicited DMs

  • Only accept music through the platform

SubmitHub becomes your “backdoor” access.

3. Building Social Proof (When Used Correctly)

A handful of solid placements can:

  • Strengthen your artist press kit

  • Add credibility when pitching elsewhere

  • Create early traction for algorithms

While SubmitHub placements alone won’t make you famous, they can support a broader promotional push.


How to Maximize Your Success on SubmitHub

This is where most artists go wrong. Simply uploading a song and buying credits is not a strategy.

Choose the Right Song (This Is Everything)

SubmitHub brutally exposes weak material. Curators listen to hundreds of tracks per week and make snap judgments.

Your song should:

  • Get to the point quickly

  • Have strong production quality

  • Match genre expectations clearly

  • Be competitive with professional releases

If your song needs “context” to be appreciated, it’s not ready for SubmitHub.

Target Narrowly, Not Broadly

One of the most common mistakes is pitching to every curator remotely related to your genre.

Instead:

  • Read curator bios carefully

  • Check recently featured artists

  • Look at playlist vibes, not just genre tags

  • Avoid curators who list conflicting genres

Ten highly targeted pitches outperform fifty random ones.

Write a Compelling Pitch Message

Your pitch message should be:

  • Short

  • Clear

  • Relevant to the curator

  • Focused on why they would care

Avoid:

  • Life stories

  • Streaming goals

  • Begging

  • Generic copy-paste messages

A strong pitch highlights:

  • Your genre lane

  • Any notable achievements (briefly)

  • Why the song fits their platform

Use Feedback Strategically (Not Emotionally)

Not all feedback will feel fair. Some will be vague. Some will sting.

The key is pattern recognition.

If multiple curators say:

  • “Song takes too long to start”

  • “Vocals too low”

  • “Doesn’t fit playlist energy”

That’s actionable data—not hate.


Understanding Acceptance Rates (And Why They Matter)

Every curator has an acceptance rate visible on their profile.

Here’s how to interpret them:

  • 1–5% acceptance: Extremely selective, often large playlists or major blogs

  • 5–15% acceptance: Competitive but realistic

  • 15–30% acceptance: Solid mid-tier curators

  • 30%+ acceptance: Easier placements, often smaller reach

High acceptance doesn’t mean “bad,” but it often means:

  • Smaller audience

  • Less long-term impact

A healthy campaign usually mixes:

  • A few high-risk, high-reward pitches

  • Several realistic mid-tier targets


The Pros of SubmitHub

Transparent System

You see:

  • Who you’re pitching to

  • Acceptance rates

  • Feedback quality

  • Estimated reach

This transparency is rare in music promotion.

Guaranteed Feedback (With Premium)

Few platforms guarantee a response. SubmitHub does—when used correctly.

Educational Value

Even rejected submissions can teach you:

  • Market fit

  • Production issues

  • Genre misalignment

Broad Industry Coverage

Few platforms connect artists to blogs, playlists, YouTube, TikTok, radio, and labels in one place.


The Cons of SubmitHub (Be Honest With Yourself)

No Guaranteed Results

You can spend money and receive nothing but rejections. This is normal—and painful.

Feedback Can Be Brief or Generic

Some curators write thoughtful critiques. Others leave one-liners. That’s the trade-off for speed.

Smaller Playlists Are Common

Many Spotify playlists on SubmitHub are:

  • Niche

  • Short-lived

  • Limited in growth potential

They won’t replace algorithmic playlists or paid ads.

Emotional Fatigue Is Real

Repeated rejection—even constructive—can wear artists down if expectations aren’t managed.


Common Mistakes Artists Make on SubmitHub

Submitting Too Early

If your song isn’t polished, SubmitHub will expose it fast.

Ignoring Genre Fit

“Close enough” doesn’t work. Curators are strict.

Chasing Stats Instead of Strategy

A playlist with 50,000 followers means nothing if:

  • Engagement is low

  • Songs rotate out quickly

  • Listeners don’t save tracks

Using SubmitHub as Your Only Promotion

SubmitHub should be one piece of a larger strategy, not the entire plan.


How SubmitHub Fits Into a Bigger Music Marketing Strategy

SubmitHub works best when paired with:

  • Consistent release schedules

  • Social media content

  • Paid ads (Meta, TikTok)

  • Email lists

  • Direct fan engagement

Think of it as:

  • Discovery + feedback, not mass exposure

Artists who expect SubmitHub alone to drive thousands of streams usually leave disappointed. Artists who use it to support momentum get far more value.


When SubmitHub Makes the Most Sense

SubmitHub is especially useful when:

  • You’re releasing a single and want early traction

  • You’re testing a new sound or genre

  • You’re building press quotes for an EPK

  • You want third-party validation

  • You’re improving songwriting and production over time

It’s less effective if:

  • You’re chasing viral growth

  • You need guaranteed ROI

  • You dislike subjective feedback


Final Thoughts: Is SubmitHub Worth It?

SubmitHub is neither a scam nor a shortcut. It is a tool—and like any tool, its value depends on how you use it.

Used poorly, it becomes:

  • A money drain

  • A confidence killer

  • A frustration loop

Used strategically, it becomes:

  • A learning platform

  • A networking gateway

  • A supporting pillar in your marketing ecosystem

The artists who succeed on SubmitHub understand one core truth:
You’re not paying for fame—you’re paying for access, insight, and opportunity.

Approach it with realistic expectations, strong music, clear targeting, and emotional discipline, and SubmitHub can absolutely earn its place in your promotional toolkit.


Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, Pandora & YouTube.


Lateef Warnick is the founder of Onassis Krown. He currently serves as a Senior Healthcare Consultant in the Jacksonville FL area and is a Certified Life Coach, Marriage Counselor, Keynote Speaker and Author of "Know Thyself," "The Golden Egg" and "Wear Your Krown." He is also a former Naval Officer, Licensed Financial Advisor, Insurance Agent, Realtor, Serial Entrepreneur and musical artist A.L.I.A.S.

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