How my playlist "accidentally" went semi-viral on Spotify
1,000 likes and counting—just not the way I planned
I started my spring semester with two goals: 1) to work out more, and 2) to start using TikTok as a branding tool for my music stories. So naturally, I started making playlists at the gym.
As it turns out, exercise is good for creativity. I made one workout playlist called “A groupie’s workout playlist,” which gained over 50 likes on Spotify after I shared it in a TikTok, which has since gained over 20K views. I filmed seven seconds of myself on the treadmill, typed out the songs as on-screen text, added some tags, and hit post.
But I got greedy. Fifty likes wasn’t enough. After listening to Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter all the way through for the first time, I decided to compile a playlist of songs not traditionally considered workout songs, with a consistent theme of heartbreak, feminine rage, and general sadness.
I started with “Ptolemaea” from Preacher’s Daughter, perfect because the sound was gaining popularity on TikTok, and followed that with “Ceilings” by Lizzy McAlpine, another popular one.
At this point, I’d never done any research on best Spotify practices, how to cater to the app’s algorithm, or just how to curate a popular playlist in general. Adding two trending songs at the top made sense, and then I didn’t worry so much about the rest. I added a Mitski song, then some Suki Waterhouse, since I’ve been into her lately. I’ll admit I was starting to stumble a bit. I decided to switch up genres a bit and add “Lover, you should come over.” I’d been on a bit of a Jeff Buckley kick, and the angsty belting seemed motivational enough for working out.
After adding an image of femcel icon Pearl from the A24 horror film as the cover, I deemed my masterpiece ready to share with the world.
When the video hit 9,000 views within two hours, I knew I had done something. I’d never had a video reach over 10K likes, but I was feeling hopeful. Comments started rolling in before I even left the gym. Many were trolls, though. A lot of “Jeff Beck?” “Jeff Beck…” or “JEFF BECK.” Lonely, middle-aged men who don’t believe a young woman like me can possibly listen to 90s rock music, I presumed. Typical.
From the gym I went to class and came home at the end of the day to find the video reached views well into the 10-thousands, and was encroaching on 10K likes. Not only that, but people were actually finding the playlist on Spotify, and likes were picking up there as well. I laid in bed watching the video again and again, basking in pride from this accomplishment, until I realized why I’d been getting the Jeff Beck comments all day—because I typed his name in place of Jeff Buckley’s.
I began to shake. This wasn’t happening. My career was over, I thought. At 22, I was toast. How could I call myself a journalist now? How could I ever pursue a career in social media management? I couldn’t even copy edit my own TikTok!
What was even more painful was that I KNEW who each Jeff was. Jeff Beck had just died, and I had recently interviewed a music industry professional who worked with him, so he was stuck on my mind. But my algorithm will tell you I was very much into Jeff Buckley at this time. Unfortunately, there was no way to prove this to the well-intentioned commenters on my TikTok. And seeing the video had already taken off, as well as the playlist, I decided not to delete.
And I’m happy I didn’t, because despite the negative comments I received—I still get a “Jeff Beck?” or “JEFF BECK” every now and then—the playlist received overwhelmingly positive feedback, including a comment from Suki Waterhouse herself.
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I was hesitant to even write this blog fearing how it might appear to potential employers. But mistakes are human, and admitting mistakes is a sign of good character. At least, that’s how I’ll explain myself in job interviews.
Also, I should be proud I made a semi-viral Spotify playlist. The standard for what is “viral” seems to vary across platforms, but across the board it usually means over 100,000 views and 1,000 comments. As for Spotify, I’m not sure if 1,000+ qualifies, but I’m proud nonetheless. I can only go up from here, and next time I’ll double check my names, because I spelled Lucy Dacus’s wrong as well.