previously wrote<\/a> that using Spotify Discovery Mode was a no-brainer. I’ve heard it compared to standing up at the theater. Sure, the first person to stand gets a better view, but before you know it everyone is standing. No one is any better off than before, just less comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, that was the plan all along. Spotify now pays out 30% less on Radio, Autoplay, and Daily Mix tracks from Discovery Mode participants. We’re less comfortable than before, yet we continue to opt in because ultimately we just want our music to be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spotify advertises Discovery Mode as a way to highlight important releases. The implication is that for maximum exposure, you should limit the number of tracks you opt in.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBut is that true? What’s the optimal Discovery Mode strategy? That’s the question I hope to answer today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It depends on whether Discovery Mode operates at the artist level or track level.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn other words, when a slot is available, does it say “give me some Color Theory”? If so, I’d rather it choose my catchiest song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, if Discovery Mode says “give me this track\u201d then we might as well opt in all of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ultimate test would be to only opt in a single track for a month and compare it to the total number of Discovery Mode streams from the previous month. I’m not willing to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, let’s look at the data I already have and see if streams go up as the number of tracks opted in goes down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My song \u201cAnyone Would\u201d has done pretty well in Discovery Mode from the beginning:<\/p>\n\n\n
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