Alex Mitchell-Hardt

Alex is Director of Strategy at Playlist Push. He formerly managed the Billboard charting group Radical Something, wrote for the Complex Media Network, and has built several brands.

Blog Posts for Artists

Music Metadata: What It Is, Why It Matters & How to Get It Right

Updated for 2026 Music metadata is the information that identifies a recording, describes a release, and credits the people behind it. It includes your artist name, song title, songwriter credits, release date, and identifiers such as ISRCs. For independent artists, getting these details right helps your music appear on the correct artist profile, gives collaborators proper credit, and supports royalty matching. Getting them wrong can mean correcting a release when you should be promoting it.

· 5 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How Cover Art Affects Playlist Placements: Album Art That Gets Your Music On Playlists

Updated for 2026 Before a playlist curator presses play, your cover art has already made an impression. Strong artwork won’t rescue a weak song or guarantee a placement, but it can signal professionalism, communicate your sound and style, and give curators another reason to take your submission seriously. In this guide, you’ll learn how album art can influence Spotify playlist consideration, what curators notice, which design mistakes can weaken your pitch, and how to create cover art that sup

· 5 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How to write a song: songwriting tips & process from top artists

Updated for 2026 When it comes to crafting hit songs, some advice from those who have already made it to the top can be invaluable. In this post, we'll share videos from 8 world-famous artists, each with their unique tips on songwriting. These artists have all figured out how to get on the Billboard charts within the past decade, and their insights can guide you in creating your song. In addition, we've included the top 10 tips for songwriting to help you with your music making process. Eig

· 7 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How To Get Your Music On The Billboard Charts in 2026

Updated for 2026 Whether you’re an artist, producer, singer, manager, or label, it’s a pretty special accolade to gain traction in the upward ranks of the famous Billboard Charts. Anywhere from the mainstream “Hot 100” to the “Global 200” charts, it is something heavily recognized in the music industry, and even more so today with how much music has become a digital metric-based form of sonic consumption and business. In essence, the Billboard Charts are a weekly ranked list of songs and albums

· 5 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

Spotify Full-Length Videos: The Complete Guide for Artists (2026)

Can full-length videos on Spotify help you get more streams? According to Spotify's data, the answer is yes. The company recently expanded its video offering by allowing eligible artists to upload full-length videos directly through Spotify for Artists. Instead of relying solely on distributors or label partners, many independent artists can now manage videos themselves. This is more than another feature update. It’s part of Spotify’s larger strategy to keep fans engaged inside the platform,

· 7 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

Guide to Music Advances for Independent Artists: How to Get Funding Based on Your Streaming Data

Updated for 2026 Independent artists today have more options than ever to access upfront capital without signing traditional label deals. One of the most common forms of independent artist funding is the music advance - also referred to as a music loan, artist advance, or royalty advance. These financing tools allow artists to obtain upfront funding based on their streaming performance and projected royalty income. This guide explains what a music advance is, how they work, and provides an ov

· 4 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How Many Streams Do You Need to Go Gold or Platinum? RIAA Certification Guide for Indie Artists (2026)

Last Updated: June 2026 If you’ve ever wondered how many Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, or other streams it takes to earn a Gold or Platinum record, you’re not alone. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awards Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum, and Diamond certifications based on certification units, not simply raw stream counts. Those units combine qualifying album sales, digital downloads, and eligible on-demand audio and video streams into a single total.

· 9 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How to Get a TikTok Artist Account in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide for Musicians

TikTok has become one of the most powerful platforms for music discovery, helping independent artists and major-label musicians reach new audiences every day. If your music is available on TikTok, applying for a TikTok Artist Account can unlock features designed specifically for musicians. From the Music Tab and New Release Highlights to artist profile tools that make your catalog easier to discover, a TikTok Artist Account can help you create a more professional presence and connect fans direc

· 5 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How to Get Verified on TikTok in 2026 Step-by-Step Guide for Musicians & Creators

TikTok verification has become one of the strongest trust signals for creators, musicians, influencers, and brands in 2026. The blue verified badge helps confirm authenticity, improve credibility, and build trust with both viewers and the TikTok algorithm. While verification does not guarantee viral growth, it can help legitimate creators stand out and protect their identity from impersonators. In this guide, you’ll learn: * How TikTok verification works * TikTok verification requirements

· 6 min read

TikTok Tips

How to Get More TikTok Views (2026): The New Search + Retention Strategy

Updated: April 17, 2026 Getting views on TikTok in 2026 is no longer about luck—or even just “going viral.” The platform has evolved into a search-driven discovery engine powered by retention, user behavior, and content classification. If you want more views, you need to optimize for two systems at the same time: * The viewer (attention, curiosity, emotion) * The algorithm (indexing, retention, engagement signals) This guide breaks down exactly how TikTok works in 2026—and how to use tha

· 4 min read

Blog Posts for Creators

TikTok Earnings Calculator for Influencers (2026 Guide)

Updated for 2026 with Creator Rewards Program rates, monetization changes, and realistic influencer income ranges. If you’re trying to estimate how much money TikTok creators earn in 2026, this calculator and guide will help. TikTok payouts have changed significantly over the past few years. The old TikTok Creator Fund paid extremely low rates for many creators. TikTok has now shifted heavily toward the Creator Rewards Program, longer-form content, affiliate revenue, TikTok Shop commissions, s

· 8 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How to Get on Apple Music Playlists: A Guide for Independent Artists

Updated for 2026. Having a strategy for getting your songs on Apple Music playlists is a must for any serious artist. With over 108 million subscribers, Apple Music is the 2nd largest streaming platform. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you land a spot on Apple Music playlists and grow your audience. 1. Understand the Types of Playlists Apple Music offers several types of playlists, each with unique benefits for artists: * Editorial Playlists: Curated by Apple Music’s in-house editors

· 4 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How to get your song on YouTube Music Playlists

Updated for 2026: YouTube Music has quietly become one of the most important platforms for music discovery, especially for artists looking to reach listeners outside of traditional streaming apps. With billions of users already on YouTube, playlists on YouTube Music play a major role in how songs get surfaced, saved, and replayed. Getting your song on YouTube Music playlists isn’t about luck or spammy submissions. It’s about understanding how the platform works, how curators discover new music,

· 9 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

How to Upload Music Videos to Spotify (Step-by-Step Guide for Artists)

Spotify recently launched official music videos giving artists a powerful new way to connect with fans while they listen to your music. The feature is currently in beta and expanding across global markets, with Premium users in the U.S. and Canada already seeing “Switch to video” options on select releases. In this guide, you’ll learn how to upload music videos to Spotify, who’s eligible, technical requirements to know, and best practices to get the most out of this feature as an independent a

· 4 min read

Blog Posts for Artists

4 New Year’s Resolutions to Jumpstart Your Music Career in 2026

1) Go on Offense ASAP (While everyone else is slacking) At the beginning of the year, you have the opportunity to go on offense while most artists are procrastinating in the aftermath of the holidays. While they repeat the crucial mistake of waiting to take action, you can be off and running - getting a big head start. We see it every year, savvy artists & musicians enter January with a release schedule, budget, and promotion plan dialed. Meanwhile, their competition spends January and Febru

· 4 min read

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