Spotify Wrapped is one of the most anticipated slideshows every year, but what makes it so special? To millions of users, it’s a chance to show off their impeccable music taste to their followers on social media. Unfortunately, this year’s Spotify Wrapped has been met with more disappointment and confusion than ever before.
When Spotify Wrapped released worldwide Dec. 4, users were scratching their heads at the string of seemingly random words that haphazardly defined their music-listening habits this year. Unlike previous iterations of Wrapped where the user’s top genres were listed, this year Spotify sorted a user’s genres by month.
Furthermore, the genres were ill-defined by what looked to be a cluster of AI-generated adjectives, rather than the objective terms for them that we’re all used to. What was once pop became “Pink Pilates Princess Strut Pop,” which is somehow an even worse successor to the previous year’s Dream SMP genre.
Spotify’s usage of AI this time around also proved to be unpopular. Spotify Wrapped 2024 included an AI podcast where generated voices would summarize whatever the user’s Wrapped had already said. The reliance on AI from companies looking to cut corners is becoming increasingly apparent and Spotify is no exception. It’s clear that these companies no longer care about the quality of their products if it means they don’t have to pay employees to do the work.
How Spotify Wrapped became such a popular phenomenon can likely be traced back to social media. People flock to post their Wrapped results on social media the minute they drop so they can show off what they listen to. This ties into a problem with social media, in general, which is that people are so anxious to make themselves and their lives appear more interesting online.
Since discussions around music can easily slip into elitist territory, it makes sense that some individuals may feel compelled to listen to certain music so it can appear on their Spotify Wrapped.
For instance, showing off that you listened to Taylor Swift and Tyler, the Creator might make you look more well-rounded than if you listened to the Shadow the Hedgehog soundtrack all year.
Spotify Wrapped 2024 was an all-around disappointment that should’ve been kept in the oven longer. This year, major Spotify Wrapped staples like top genres and location were nowhere to be found, and some have reported missing a top podcasts list.
While it’s possible Spotify’s collected data is more reliable than our collective memory regarding what we listened to this year, it’s hard to say with their vehement use of AI over a backdrop of what looked like a Google Slides template. Just like YouTube Rewind a few years ago, this year’s Spotify Wrapped has left the world wondering why they still bother to make these, all while praying they won’t have to show off how many hours they listened to Drake next time.
