We’ve updated the track recommendation algorithm. Here’s what you need to know to get more plays on the radio
We’ve updated the track recommendation algorithm on Minatrix.FM, which means it’s the perfect time to explain how not to upset the algorithm — and how to get as many plays as possible.
First, the important part: a lot is decided before your track is even published. Yes, really. Not after release, not when you refresh the page for the tenth time thinking, “So… where are my millions of plays?” — but at the exact moment you fill in the track information.
The better your release is presented, the better its chances of getting into recommendations.
Track title — not a three-volume novel
Use only the actual title of the track in the title field. If you need to add extra information, put it in brackets: (Radio Edit), (Original Mix), (Remix), (Extended Mix), and so on.
Please don’t use the title to explain that the song is dedicated to your cat, your canary, your ex-love, your future love, or the neighbor who finally stopped drilling into the wall. There’s another field for that. The algorithm understands a lot, of course, but it is not required to read a full confession inside a track title.
Fill in all the fields. All means all — not “one out of three”
The more information you provide, the better. Artist name, title, genre, mood, description, and everything else are not just “for decoration.” They help the system understand who should hear your track.
If a track page is empty, has no cover, and no description, it looks like the author uploaded a file and immediately ran away from responsibility.
The cover is not just decoration — it’s the face of your track
Not having a cover can seriously reduce the number of plays. In the recommendation player, a track without artwork looks less noticeable, and listeners are less likely to open it.
So make sure to upload a square cover image of at least 250×250 pixels.
Yes, we also believe that music is the most important thing. But the listener sees the image first, and only then decides whether to press Play. Without a cover, the track looks like “the unnamed hero of the downloads folder.”
Track description — this is where the cat can shine
A completed track description has a very positive effect on recommendations. This is exactly where you can say everything that didn’t belong in the title: how the track was created, what it is about, what mood you wanted to express, who took part in the work, lyrics if there are any — and yes, you can congratulate the cat here too.
Just avoid promotional shouting like: “EVERYONE LISTEN NOW!!! BEST HIT IN THE GALAXY!!!” followed by a million links.
That doesn’t make the track better. At most, it scares the listener — and us a little.
Important: don’t touch the publication date unless you need to
If you are not planning a scheduled release and want the track to be published immediately, do not touch the publication date field at all.
- Don’t check it.
- Don’t set it “just in case.”
- Don’t click it simply because you’re curious.
If you set a date, the track may not be published immediately. Then come the questions: “Where is my track?”, “Why hasn’t it been published?”, “Does the algorithm hate me?” No, sometimes the algorithm has nothing to do with it. Sometimes it’s the date field that should have been left alone.
About AI — honestly and without tricks
If AI was used in the creation of the material, please state it honestly. Such a track can still be recommended alongside fully original works.
We are not against AI. We are against playing hide-and-seek with the listener.
If the Minatrix.FM algorithm detects AI usage and the author has hidden it, the track may be ranked lower. In simple terms: honesty helps, clever tricks — not so much.
Formatted the track properly? You’re already doing well
If you’ve done everything properly — a clean title, all fields filled in, cover uploaded, description written naturally, and the publication date left untouched unless needed — you’re already more than halfway toward getting into recommendations.
But you can help your track even more.
What to do after publication
1. Add a comment
Right after publication, you can leave a comment on your own track. This is where you can write something a little more promotional, invite people to listen, talk about the release, or add a few personal words.
But don’t copy the description word for word. A comment should feel alive, not like “track description, take two.”
The more comments, likes, and activity around a track, the higher the chances that the algorithm will start recommending it more actively.
2. Share the link on social media
Tell people about your track on social media, in messengers, on blogs — anywhere your audience listens to you, and not just relatives being polite.
If the algorithm sees listeners coming to your track from outside sources, that’s a good signal. And if someone also signs up, likes the track, or leaves a comment — the algorithm may thank you twice.
Not with magic. Just with recommendations. Although from the outside, it sometimes looks like magic.
How a play is counted
Right now, it’s simple: one press of the Play button is enough for a play to be counted.
But pressing Play again and again will not add endless plays. The “press Play 500 times and become a star” strategy does not work. We checked. Well, okay, maybe not us — but someone definitely wanted to.
Soon, we plan to add another server so we can provide more detailed statistics. In the future, we will also take listener retention into account: how long people listened, whether they listened to the end, or whether they ran away after five seconds with the expression “what was that?”
That’s when things will become more difficult. But also more interesting.
Where plays are counted
Likes and comments are available on minatrix.fm, as well as in the Android and iOS apps.
Plays, however, are counted more broadly: from minatrix.fm, minatrix.com, minatrix.com.ua, minatrix.ru, minatrix.tv, and almost 50 partner websites where our player is installed.
So your track may be heard by someone in a completely different place from where you uploaded it. The internet is a strange place, but sometimes a very useful one.
Your authority matters too
Plays are influenced not only by the track itself, but also by your authority on the site. So it’s not the best strategy to live by the formula: “uploaded a track — disappeared — came back to check my fame.”
Like other artists’ work, leave comments, communicate, support musicians, and develop your profile. This helps you earn not only BPM, but also increases your rating within the project.
And your rating is your reputation inside Minatrix.FM. The more active and useful you are to the project, the more trust your account gains.
In short, without too much philosophy
Want a better chance of getting into recommendations?
- Fill in all the fields.
- Add a proper cover.
- Don’t write memoirs in the track title.
- Use the description field for its actual purpose.
- Don’t touch the publication date unless you need a scheduled release.
- Be honest about AI usage.
- Add a comment after publication.
- Share the link.
- Stay active on the site.
- Don’t fake activity — the algorithm doesn’t sleep, it just pretends to.
Good music is the foundation. But even the strongest track can get lost if it’s uploaded without a cover, without a description, and with a title that looks like a message you wrote to yourself at three in the morning.
Prepare your releases carefully, help listeners understand your music faster — and your track will have a better chance of reaching the people who are actually ready to hear it.
And yes, definitely congratulate the cat.
Just not in the track title.
