Spotify is handing you direct control over what songs are recommended to you.
The streaming service just launched Prompted Playlist, which is a new feature that lets you explain exactly what you want to hear and create the rules for a new personalised playlist. This means rather than simply learning from your behaviour based on your previous listening habits, Spotify now responds to your spoken or typed instructions.
Spotify's new feature arrives as the company aims to broaden its personalisation functions. As a listener, you can already enjoy core personalised playlists such as the following:
- Made For You: A playlist curated with tailored recommendations
- Discover Weekly: A weekly updated playlist of 30 songs recommended based on your listening habits
- Release Radar: A playlist featuring the latest releases from artists you follow and similar artists
You can also enjoy an annual curated playlist based on your Spotify Wrapped, which is an end-of-year feature that gives you a personalised, shareable breakdown of your music habits — including top songs, artists, genres and more
"Our goal is to make Spotify more personal, more responsive, more intelligent, and more aware of the world and culture around it, in order to bring greater value to listeners, artists, and creators," Spotify said in a statement.
The catch? The new feature isn't available to everyone quite yet. It's currently available in testing mode for premium subscribers in New Zealand to work out any bugs. There has been no confirmation as to when it could roll out globally.
In a dedicated prompt box, you can describe exactly what you're after, and the system generates a tailored selection based on your specifications.
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The new feature draws on your complete Spotify listening history, stretching back to the very first track you ever played on the platform. This means playlists reflect not just your current preferences but your entire musical journey over the years.
In a dedicated prompt box, you can describe exactly what you're after, and the system generates a tailored selection based on your specifications. Each recommended track then pops up with explanations detailing why it was chosen for you.
Should the results not quite match your expectations, you can tweak your original request or begin again entirely. The platform also allows you to adjust how specific or broad your instructions are.
For instance, you might request tracks from your most-played artists over the past five years, then add a stipulation to include lesser-known songs you haven't yet discovered. Alternatively, you could ask for upbeat pop and hip-hop suited to a half-hour running session, with the tempo gradually slowing for your cool-down period.
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Spotify has 713 million users who have collectively built nearly 9 billion playlists
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The system can also incorporate music from recent blockbuster films or popular television programmes that align with your tastes. If you need inspiration, an "Ideas" button offers suggested prompts such as songs from artists currently headlining major tours.
Plus, you can set your playlist to update automatically on a daily or weekly basis.
Spotify's 713 million users have collectively built nearly 9 billion playlists, demonstrating that personal curation remains central to how listeners engage with the platform.
For musicians, the feature also promises more intelligent discovery, connecting their work with listeners most likely to enjoy it and helping them expand their audiences.