Spotify’s wrapped from 2025 showcased new features some listeners were not expecting. Last year, Spotify users were given the usual top artists, tracks, and songs, but were also given a listening age and their top albums. The listening age was based on what genre of music users listened to the most. Grunge listeners received a usual age of 30 or higher, while pop listeners had a listening age of 20. While this isn’t entirely accurate, most users found this an enjoyable aspect of the data collection. However, 2024’s wrapped received a lot of backlash from using AI to create the year in review. The wrapped didn’t feel personalized, it felt cold and robotic. In response, this year the annual feature highlighted top artists, songs, genres, and listening minutes, packaged with playful visuals and social-media-friendly graphics that quickly flooded platforms like Instagram and TikTok. While AI was still used to develop the statistics, it felt more human and playful.
Wrapped was praised for its engaging design and interactive elements, reinforcing Spotify’s strength in blending data with entertainment. However, some users noted that the insights felt familiar compared to previous editions, with fewer surprises or major changes to the format. Despite those criticisms, Spotify Wrapped remains a highly effective marketing tool and a fan-favorite tradition, sparking conversations, comparisons, and renewed interest in music discovery as the year ends. Music brings many people together, where bonding and new interests can be discovered. Spotify uses a lot of tracking data to make things like wrapped happen, and some users are wary of an infringement of their privacy. The end of Spotify is a very real possibility, with some activists and humanitarian influencers using their power to switch to analog listening, like CDs and record players. Although it may not be in the near future, Spotify is still receiving criticisms for its partnership with the US government and the promotion of AI music.
