Spotify is wonderfully transparent about the algorithmic factors* that comprise the six individual daily mixes. Since I went freelance a year ago, I’ve relied on Spotify’s Daily Mixes to soundtrack my workday. Here’s a primer on how a one-off Summer Rewind mix was algorithmically compiled from back in 2017. I would have a hard time suddenly living without it, though.įor the unfamiliar, Spotify’s algorithm assesses your past listening habits, the artists you follow, the playlists you make, and spits out highly personalized recommendations via an assortment of mixes, updated daily, weekly, monthly, annually. I wouldn’t say that I’m in love with Spotify’s algorithm. It’s just as good as Netflix’s recommendation algorithm used to be, back when I could rate every movie with 5 stars. It can predict my fussy-but-broad taste better than my partner. But more than anything I fucking love the celestial jukebox, aka my Spotify account.Īfter five years of regularly listening and making playlists through Spotify, my algorithm knows what I like. I buy new records on vinyl, and I read Pitchfork on the daily out of habit. Now I can’t wait until I can safely go to a concert again. I ruined computers because I downloaded too many MP3s with viruses attached. I chose my college because I wanted to be in a place with a good music scene. I spent all my allowance and then my wages on records. As my fandom in the late 90s evolved, I went to record stores and bought Japanese-import Radiohead singles just to get the b-sides. At fifteen I subscribed to Spin and Rolling Stone and spent hours reading and listening to CDs I bought through Columbia House.

A version of this post originally appeared in the Jissue with the email subject line ' Intentionally diversifying your algorithms.'

What is spotify algorithmic playlists