For many independent songwriters, the hardest part isn’t writing the music — it’s getting anyone to actually hear it.

That’s where platforms like Groover come in. Promising guaranteed listening, real feedback, and access to over 3,000 industry professionals, it sounds like the answer to a problem most artists face at some point: How do I get my music out there without shouting into the void?

We asked a few members of the Talent Is Timeless community to try Groover for themselves — and report back honestly.

This article is based primarily on the experience of Simon Greenleaf, with additional insights from Cath Harney and Michelle Bond.

What is Groover (and how does it work)?

In simple terms, Groover allows artists to:

• Choose music professionals (playlist curators, radio hosts, bloggers, labels)
• Submit a track directly to them (for a fee)
• Receive guaranteed feedback within 7 days — or get refunded

Each submission costs a few euros (via “Grooviz” credits), and you can target who you send your music to using filters like genre and location.

On paper, it’s a neat idea: pay for access, skip the algorithm, and get real human ears on your track.

Simon’s Experience: “At last… someone actually listened”

Simon’s story will feel familiar to many independent artists:

“I’ve written a lot of music, self-funded the production, released it… and realised nobody is ever likely to listen to it.”

Rather than relying on social media or marketing strategies that didn’t feel natural, Simon turned to Groover as a structured way to get his music heard.

The process

He described the platform as straightforward and well-organised, with a clear step-by-step workflow:

• Upload your track (SoundCloud required, Spotify recommended)
• Select genres
• Filter curators
• Set a budget
• Send your track out

Simon chose to invest £132, submitting his song In the Same Band to 48 curators.

The Feedback: Surprisingly Genuine

One of Simon’s biggest concerns going in?

That the feedback might feel automated or generic.

It didn’t.

“Almost all of the reviews were clearly written by somebody who had listened… none of them felt AI-generated.”

Many responses were thoughtful and detailed — something that’s often missing for independent artists.

Positive highlights included:

• “A cool retro rock sound… a great Saturday night song.”
• “Really uplifting… perfect fit for the playlist!”
• “It left a lasting impact.”

And the more critical (but useful) feedback:

• “I just didn’t connect with the vocal.”
• “The production standard not high enough.”
• “I have a dislike for harmonica.”

Not every comment was easy to hear — but that’s part of the value.

As Simon put it, this was the first time he’d ever received real external feedback on his music.

But What About Exposure?

This is where things get more nuanced.

By the end of the campaign:

• 48 submissions
• 42 responses
• 4 Spotify playlist placements
• 3 radio plays

On the surface, that sounds promising.

But…

“When I looked more closely… the playlists and radio stations had very small audiences.”

And there was another recurring issue:

The “It’s Not Quite Our Vibe” Problem

Even after carefully selecting genres, many curators declined for reasons like:

• “Not quite the right fit”
• “We focus on a slightly different sound”
• “Great track, just not for our playlist”

This highlights something important:

👉 Groover helps you reach people — but it doesn’t guarantee alignment.

Simon’s takeaway?

“I think the lesson is to spend more time researching curators rather than relying on Groover’s filters.”

Michelle’s Long-Term View: “Great for feedback, less so for playlists”

Michelle has been using Groover for two years, and her experience reinforces Simon’s.

• Playlists can be valuable — if you get in
• But curators are extremely selective
• And sometimes don’t clearly follow their own genre guidelines

Her advice is practical:

“Look up and listen to the playlists first before you pay.”

She also highlighted a key use case:

👉 Groover works well as a pre-release feedback tool — helping you refine your track before it goes live.

Cath’s Experience: Easy to Use, But You’ll Need Budget

Cath also found the platform simple and user-friendly, but noted a couple of limitations:

• Guidance on writing a strong pitch could be better
• Results may depend on how much you’re willing to spend

“You need a fairly significant amount of cash to cast the net wide.”

So… Is Groover Worth It?

The honest answer?

👉 It depends on your goal.

If your goal is feedback:

✔️ Strong recommendation

• Genuine, thoughtful responses
• Fast turnaround
• Valuable for improving your craft

If your goal is exposure:

⚠️ Manage expectations

• Playlist placements are possible, but limited
• Audience reach may be small
• Success depends heavily on targeting and budget

Final Thoughts

Groover delivers on one key promise:

👉 Your music will be heard.

And for many songwriters — especially those working independently — that alone can be incredibly valuable.

But it’s not a magic bullet for building an audience.

As a community built on connection, growth, and honest support, this aligns with something we see every day at Talent Is Timeless:

Progress in music rarely comes from one tool — it comes from a combination of feedback, persistence, community, and continued creativity. 

Would we recommend it?

Yes — with clarity.

Use Groover if you want:

• Honest feedback
• Industry perspectives
• A structured way to test your music

Just don’t rely on it alone to grow your audience.

Participants: Simon Greenleaf With contributions from Cath Harney and Michelle Bond