Spotify is introducing new ways for users to personalize their listening experience. A new feature allows users to filter their entire library by specific activities, moods, or genres. These filters can be used to find playlists and, to a certain extent, audiobooks and podcasts. They can also be used to start a new session with Spotify’s AI DJ.
These smart filters began rolling out on Friday. They will first be available to Premium subscribers using mobile devices and tablets in select markets, including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. Spotify estimates the rollout will be completed over the next few weeks.
This launch is part of the company’s ongoing focus on adding more personalization tools to its app. While these features may seem like small additions, they help differentiate Spotify from its competitors and can make the service more essential for existing users.
In recent months, Spotify has released several personalized features. In April, the company began offering tools to create personalized playlists using AI prompts. New playlist management tools and a way to create custom cover art were added in May. Users can now also use voice commands to personalize their music selection with the AI DJ and take advantage of a revamped version of the flagship Discover Weekly playlist.
Despite these additions, some users feel Spotify’s interface is becoming too crowded. This is especially true as the company expands into social networking by adding features like messages, podcast comments, polls, Q&As, and stories. A recent design shift has also made the app feel more like TikTok or YouTube, particularly following the introduction of music videos and video podcasts.
The company has often faced complaints about an overly busy user interface. The continual addition of new features has left some users feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. This, combined with Spotify’s heavy focus on algorithmic suggestions, has even pushed some users to abandon the platform entirely.
However, Spotify continues to report growth in its user base. The number of users swelled by 11 percent to 696 million in the last quarter compared to a year earlier. The number of subscribers also grew, reaching 276 million, which is up 12 percent.