1. Submitting Poor-Quality Music

Music quality is subjective, but one thing is universal—curators want songs that sound great in their playlists. Whether your track is lo-fi, high-fidelity, or experimental, it needs to be a polished listening experience.

Curators build playlists that people come back to, so they avoid songs that sound unbalanced, overly compressed, or poorly mixed. If your track sticks out for the wrong reasons, it’s likely to be rejected.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Always submit final, mastered versions of your tracks—not demos.

• If possible, upload WAV files instead of MP3s for better sound quality.

• Get professional mastering or use an online service like Landr.

• Compare your track’s levels and balance to other songs in the same genre.
  

2. Targeting the Wrong Contacts

One of the biggest mistakes artists and labels make is submitting their music to the wrong curators. A scattershot approach—sending your track to as many people as possible and hoping for the best—will waste your budget and yield poor results.

For example, if you’re submitting an ambient instrumental track to a blog that primarily covers punk rock, you’re setting yourself up for rejection.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Take the time to research each curator before submitting.

• Listen to their playlists—does your track fit naturally?

• Read their blog or social media to see the genres they cover.

• Personalize your pitch! Mention their playlist or blog by name and explain why your track is a good fit.
  

3. Ignoring Feedback

Groover curators often provide valuable feedback on your submission. But many artists and labels dismiss it outright instead of using it to refine their approach.

Even if a curator declines your song, their feedback can help you improve future submissions. Maybe they suggest adjusting the mix, removing an intro sound, or tweaking an element of your production.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Read all feedback carefully—look for recurring themes in multiple responses.

• If a curator gives constructive criticism, consider making changes and resubmitting.

• Stay open-minded! You don’t have to change your artistic vision, but small tweaks can make a big difference.

• Ps. It’s also okay to just outright ignore them all together…. YOU are the creative!
  

4. Neglecting Visuals

Your music is the most important thing—but presentation matters, too. Curators often check out your Spotify, website, or social media before featuring your music. If your branding looks unprofessional, they may pass on your track.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Make sure your Spotify profile looks clean and professional.

• Use high-quality album artwork that fits your aesthetic.

• Include a professional press photo in your submission.

• If you’re submitting to blogs, have a simple one-sheet with links, a bio, and relevant info.
  

5. Lacking a Clear Strategy

Many artists and labels use Groover without a specific goal, treating it as just another to-do list item. But throwing money at submissions without a strategy leads to poor results.

Instead of submitting randomly, set clear objectives for your campaign. Are you trying to get on one high-profile playlist? Land multiple blog features? Get your song reviewed by a niche music community?

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Define your goals before submitting (e.g., “I want to get on 3 well-matched playlists”).

• Set a budget and invest strategically in the right curators.

• After your campaign, analyze your results—which submissions worked best?