The Ultimate Guide to Spotify Pre-Saves in 2025

In the fast-moving world of music promotion, staying ahead of the curve means understanding not just how to create great music, but also how to strategically release it. One of the most powerful tools available to independent artists today is the Spotify pre-save.

If you’re serious about building momentum, getting playlisted, and making a real splash on release day, pre-saves are no longer optional, they're essential.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through:

• What Spotify pre-saves are and how they work

• Why pre-saves matter more than ever in 2025

• Step-by-step strategies to get more pre-saves

• Common mistakes to avoid

• Tools and services (like Pitch-Us ) that can help you go from “just another release” to Release Radar gold

Let’s dive in.

What Is a Spotify Pre-Save?

A Spotify pre-save is like a digital “pre-order” for your upcoming release. When fans pre-save your song or album, they’re giving Spotify permission to automatically add your track to their library the moment it drops.

Here’s what actually happens when someone clicks "pre-save":

• Your upcoming release is saved to their Spotify library

• It can be added to their liked songs or custom playlists

• Spotify gets an early engagement signal before release day

In short, pre-saves tell the Spotify algorithm that people care about your music before it even drops. That can massively influence how the algorithm treats your song on release day.

Why Spotify Pre-Saves Matter (Even More in 2025)

In 2025, Spotify is smarter (and more competitive) than ever before. There are over 100,000 tracks uploaded to Spotify every single day. That’s not a typo.

So how do you rise above the noise?

Pre-saves are part of the answer.

Here’s why they matter:

1. They Trigger Spotify’s Algorithm

Spotify looks at early activity like:

• Pre-saves

• First-day stream counts

• Save-to-stream ratio

• Repeat listens

Strong pre-save numbers can boost your chances of landing on:

• Release Radar

• Discover Weekly

• Radio playlists

• Even curated editorial playlists (if combined with pitching)

2. They Boost First-Day Momentum

Releasing music with zero traction is like launching a rocket without fuel. A solid pre-save campaign ensures:

• You get streams immediately when the song goes live

• Fans don’t forget about your drop

• You can use the numbers to showcase your momentum to press and curators

3. They Build Hype and Anticipation

Pre-saves give your fans a way to get involved in your journey. It’s like saying, “Hey, be part of this moment with me.”

You turn passive followers into engaged supporters.

How to Set Up a Spotify Pre-Save Campaign (Step-by-Step)

Here’s how to create and promote a professional-looking pre-save campaign:

Step 1: Schedule Your Release in Advance

Distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby let you schedule releases. Set your release date at least 2–4 weeks in advance. This gives you enough runway for your pre-save campaign.

Pro tip: Make sure your Spotify for Artists account is verified and linked.

Step 2: Create Your Pre-Save Link

You’ll need a tool or service to generate a pre-save landing page. Popular options include:

• Show.co (by CD Baby)

• Feature.fm

• Hypeddit

• ToneDen

These tools connect with Spotify’s API and allow fans to authenticate and approve the pre-save action.

Step 3: Design a High-Converting Landing Page

Make sure your pre-save page:

• Features the single/album artwork

• Has a short description or call to action

• Includes social proof or press if available

• Is mobile-friendly and loads fast

Some tools will handle this design for you, including branded visuals and conversion tracking.

Step 4: Promote, Promote, Promote

Use every channel available:

• Instagram Stories (with link stickers)

• Email list (if you have one)

• TikTok teasers

• Countdown reminders

• Smart links in bio (Linktree, Beacons)

Offer incentives like:

• Exclusive behind-the-scenes content

• Early merch drops

• A contest (e.g., win a Zoom meet-and-greet with pre-savers)

Best Practices to Get More Spotify Pre-Saves

Getting people to click your pre-save link is a mix of psychology, marketing, and timing. 

Here are 7 top tactics:

1. Start with Your Core Fans

Text them directly. Send them a personal DM. Don’t rely solely on mass posting.

2. Use Social Proof

Post screenshots of pre-save confirmations and thank fans by name.

Example: “Shoutout to @musicfan22 for the pre-save! Let’s go 💥”

3. Create Urgency

People respond to deadlines. Use countdown graphics and phrases like:

• “Only 3 days left to pre-save!”

• “Help us hit 500 pre-saves before launch 🚀”

4. Pin It Everywhere

Pin your pre-save link on:

• Instagram bio

• TikTok profile

• Twitter (X) bio and pinned tweet

• Your email signature

5. Use Instagram Story Highlights

Create a “Pre-Save” highlight with all your promotional content for new fans to catch up.

6. Run a Low-Budget Ad Campaign

Even $20–$50 in Instagram or TikTok ads (targeted at fans of similar artists) can drive real results.

7. Leverage Influencers or Micro-Creators

Ask small creators (under 10k) who love your genre to mention or share the pre-save. A few well-placed posts can outperform paid ads.

Common Mistakes Artists Make with Pre-Saves

Avoid these pitfalls:

❌ Waiting too late

You need at least 10–14 days to run a solid pre-save campaign.

❌ No follow-up

Fans forget. Remind them. Send a message or story every few days with a new hook.

❌ Boring or generic messaging

“Please pre-save my song” isn’t enough. Give people a reason. Share a story, a visual, or the meaning behind the song.

❌ Not measuring results

Use tools (like Feature.fm) that give you click-through rates, conversions, and engagement metrics so you can improve next time.

Pro Tip: Combine Pre-Saves with Playlist Pitching

Here’s a real gem: If you’re collecting strong pre-save numbers, you’re in a much better position to pitch to editorial and independent Spotify playlists.

You can say:

“My track had 800 pre-saves before release and got 3,000 streams on day one.”

That kind of momentum helps curators and playlist editors see your music as worth featuring .

If playlist pitching feels overwhelming,  Pitch-Us  specializes in building and executing fully custom Spotify growth campaigns. We combine:

• Playlist pitching

• Social media promotion

• PR promotion

Unlike fake stream farms or shady services, Pitch-Us works exclusively with real, organic growth strategies that actually serve artists long-term.

What to Do After Your Pre-Save Campaign Ends

Your work isn’t done once the song is out.

Here’s your post-release checklist:

✅ Announce the release across all channels
✅ Send a “thank you” message to pre-savers
✅ Share first-day results and fan reactions
✅ Add the track to your own playlists
✅ Submit to indie playlist curators
✅ Analyze the data (stream spikes, location, saves)

Then, start prepping for the next release, using what you learned this time around.

Final Thoughts

Spotify pre-saves in 2025 are a legitimate, data-driven way to build excitement, trigger the algorithm, and gain momentum with every new song.

But to do it right, you need:

• Time to prepare

• The right tools

• A clear promotional plan

• Consistency across every release

Whether you're DIY-ing or working with a partner, don’t sleep on pre-saves. They might just be the boost your music needs to break through.

Need Help Running a Professional Spotify Campaign?

If you’re tired of guessing what works and want a partner who can actually deliver, consider teaming up with a trusted agency like  Pitch-Us .

We work with artists who are serious about growing on Spotify, without bots, gimmicks, or fake playlists.

Just smart marketing, real results, and long-term fan building.

Check out our services → pitch-us.com 

TL;DR: Your Spotify Pre-Save Cheat Sheet

• Pre-saves = early engagement that drives algorithmic growth

• Launch your campaign 2–4 weeks in advance

• Use tools like Feature.fm to create landing pages

• Promote on every channel with urgency and incentives

• Combine with playlist pitching for best results

• Post-launch follow-up is just as important

Ready to turn your next release into a streaming success?

🎧 Start with a killer pre-save campaign and let your fans do the rest.