Guide

Metrics Deep Dive — Full Guide

How to enter your Spotify data, read your health scores, and get AI-powered analysis of your algorithmic position.

What Is Metrics Deep Dive?

Metrics Deep Dive is the core analysis engine of Artist's Toolkit. You enter 12+ data points from your Spotify for Artists dashboard, and the tool immediately calculates your algorithmic health across 6 dimensions. Each dimension is scored and color-coded so you know at a glance what's working and what needs attention. The optional AI Analysis (1 credit) goes deeper — providing personalized strategic recommendations grounded in your actual numbers.

Save Rate

How often listeners save your tracks. A strong save signal tells Spotify's algorithm your music has lasting value — triggering more playlist placements.

Streams per Listener

How many times the average listener plays your music. High repeat play rates indicate strong listener retention and song quality signals.

Follower Conversion

The rate at which listeners convert to followers. Followers unlock algorithmic benefits including Release Radar drops to your entire audience.

Engagement Rate

A composite of active listeners relative to your total reach. High engagement means Spotify surfaces you more aggressively in discovery features.

Active Listener Rate

The proportion of your audience that is actively listening this period. A declining active rate can flag algorithm deprioritization before it fully sets in.

Source Breakdown

Where your streams are coming from — profile visits, personalized playlists, autoplay, or other. The mix reveals your algorithmic vs. organic health.

Where to Find Each Metric in Spotify for Artists

All data comes from your Spotify for Artists dashboard at artists.spotify.com. Here's exactly where to find each field.

Monthly Listeners
Home tab → your artist profile header. Shows your 28-day unique listener count. This is your top-level reach metric.
Total Streams
Music tab → select a time period → sum all stream counts. Use the last 28 days to match the monthly listeners window.
Monthly Active Listeners
Audience tab → "Active audience" section. These are listeners who have streamed at least once in the last 28 days.
New Active Listeners
Audience tab → "New listeners" card. Listeners who discovered your music for the first time in the current period.
Super Listeners
Audience tab → scroll to the "Super listeners" section. These are your top ~1% highest-intent listeners — a key retention signal.
Streams per Listener
Calculate it: Total Streams ÷ Monthly Listeners. Or find it in the Audience tab if Spotify displays it directly in your market.
Saves
Music tab → select a track → "Stats" panel → Saves count. Add saves across your top tracks for the period.
Playlist Adds
Music tab → track stats → "Playlists" section. The total number of user-created playlist additions across your catalog.
Followers
Home tab → your profile header → Followers count. This is your cumulative follower total, not a period-specific figure.
Source Breakdown %
Music tab → select a track → "Where people listen" → "Stream sources." Shows the percentage split across: Artist Profile, Personalized (algorithmic), Autoplay/Mixes, and Other. Average across your top 3–5 tracks.
Tip: Spotify for Artists updates most metrics with a 2–3 day lag. For the most accurate snapshot, run your analysis mid-week on data that's at least 3 days old.

How to Enter Your Data

1

Open the Metrics Deep Dive tool

From the main dashboard, click "Metrics Deep Dive" in the navigation. The form will load with all input fields grouped by category.

2

Fill in your core audience metrics

Enter Monthly Listeners, Total Streams, Monthly Active Listeners, New Active Listeners, and Super Listeners. These are the foundation of all 6 health scores.

Important: Use numbers for the same time window — typically the last 28 days. Mixing a 7-day streams number with a 28-day listener count will produce inaccurate scores.
3

Enter engagement and conversion metrics

Fill in Saves, Playlist Adds, and Followers. Then enter Streams per Listener (or let the tool calculate it automatically if you've filled in the stream and listener fields).

4

Set your source breakdown percentages

Enter the four source percentages: Artist Profile %, Personalized %, Autoplay/Mixes %, and Other %. These must add up to 100%. The tool will flag you if they don't.

5

Select your genre and artist tier

Choose your primary genre from the dropdown. Then select your artist tier — this sets the benchmarks against which your scores are measured. Tiers: Emerging (under 10K monthly listeners), Growing (10K–100K), Established (100K–1M), Major (1M+).

Tip: Be honest about your tier — over-selecting inflates your scores, under-selecting makes everything look better than it is. The goal is actionable data, not flattery.
6

Click "Calculate Scores"

Your 6 health dimension cards appear instantly. No credit is spent at this stage — the score calculation is always free.

How to Read the 6 Health Score Cards

Each of the 6 dimension cards shows a score (0–100), a color status, and a one-line interpretation. Here's what the colors mean.

Green
Score is above the benchmark for your tier. This dimension is an algorithmic strength. Focus on maintaining it while improving weaker areas.
Amber
Score is near the benchmark — neither a liability nor a standout. Small improvements here can meaningfully move your overall algorithmic standing.
Red
Score is below the benchmark. This dimension is likely limiting your algorithmic reach. The AI Analysis will provide targeted action steps specifically for red-flagged dimensions.
Note: A red score doesn't mean your music is bad — it means the algorithm has a specific gap it's not rewarding. These gaps are fixable with targeted strategy.

Running the AI Deep Dive (1 Credit)

1

Review your scores first

Before spending a credit, look at which dimensions are red or amber. The AI Analysis will address these specifically — knowing them in advance helps you evaluate the quality of the recommendations.

2

Click "Run AI Deep Dive"

A confirmation dialog will show you the cost (1 credit) and your remaining balance. Confirm to proceed. The analysis typically takes 10–20 seconds.

3

Read your personalized report

The AI report covers: an overall assessment, dimension-by-dimension interpretation, your most critical bottleneck, and 3–5 prioritized action steps specific to your numbers and genre.

4

Save or export your report

Use the "Save Report" button to store your analysis in your account history. Use "Export PDF" to download it for offline reference or to share with a manager, label contact, or collaborator.

Tip: Re-run your analysis monthly. The comparison between reports shows whether your strategies are actually moving your scores.

Understanding Your Industry Position

Below your 6 dimension cards, you'll see an Industry Position panel that contextualizes your numbers relative to your artist tier. It shows your estimated percentile ranking, revenue range benchmarks, and a tier-specific summary statement.

Tier Percentile

Your overall health score ranked within your tier. A score in the top 25% of your tier means you're outperforming most artists at your listener level — a strong signal for pitching to labels, playlist curators, or DSP editorial teams.

Revenue Benchmarks

Estimated monthly streaming revenue ranges for your tier, based on average per-stream rates and your listener/stream counts. These are estimates, not guarantees — actual rates vary by market and distributor.

Getting the Most from Metrics Deep Dive

Run it on a release cycle

Enter your metrics 2 weeks before a release, immediately after, and 4 weeks post-release. The three-point comparison reveals exactly how much algorithmic lift your release generated and whether it sustained.

Pay attention to source breakdown shifts

If your Personalized % is rising, Spotify's algorithm is pushing your music proactively — lean into it. If Autoplay/Mixes is your highest source, your music is in rotation but you're not converting new fans. The AI Analysis will explain what to do differently.

Super Listeners are your leverage point

Super Listeners have an outsized influence on Spotify's taste recommendation graph. If your super listener count is low relative to your total audience, focus on deepening engagement with your existing fans before expanding reach.

Don't optimize all 6 dimensions simultaneously

The AI report will identify your single highest-leverage bottleneck. Focus exclusively on that one dimension for 4–6 weeks before re-running. Trying to improve everything at once diffuses your effort and makes it impossible to measure what's working.