NEW YORK — The time has come once again for Spotify to prepare its highly anticipated annual Wrapped feature, which offers users a personalized summary of their listening habits over the past year.
Since its inception in 2016, Spotify Wrapped has transformed into a significant event and a viral sensation, growing in popularity each year. The streaming service has declared that this year’s Wrapped, slated for release in 2023, is the most extensive version created to date, boasting impressive audience engagement and a wealth of data.
So, what can we expect from this year’s Spotify Wrapped? Let’s delve into the details that have captured the attention of millions worldwide.
What is Spotify Wrapped, exactly?
Spotify Wrapped is an annual feature that provides users with insights into their unique listening habits as well as broader trends worldwide. Users can discover their favorite artists, songs, genres, albums, and podcasts, all which are compiled into an engaging interactive format.
The Wrapped experience has become a phenomenon on social media, where users eagerly share and compare their Wrapped results with friends and followers online.
Previous editions of Wrapped have provided fascinating insights, such as identifying whether users are among an artist’s top listeners, and also offering a curated playlist of their top 100 songs from the year—a nostalgic compilation that they can save and share.
Additionally, Spotify generates a series of playlists reflecting national and global listening statistics, showcasing the most streamed artists and tracks. In 2023, Taylor Swift took the title of the most streamed artist, dethroning Bad Bunny, who had previously held it for three consecutive years.
Every year introduces new features. For example, in 2019, Wrapped encapsulated users’ streaming habits over the entire decade. The previous year, Spotify offered a match to listeners based on their musical preferences, likening them to a “Sound Town” that reflected their tastes compared to others globally.
When will it be released?
The precise release date for this year’s Wrapped remains a mystery, as the streaming service has yet to provide specific details. Historically, Wrapped has launched after Thanksgiving, typically between November 30 and December 6.
Each year, speculations circulate on social media regarding when Spotify concludes data collection for Wrapped. This year has followed suit, with Spotify dispelling any myths by confirming on social media that “Spotify Wrapped doesn’t stop counting on October 31st.” However, a Spotify representative has not clarified when the tracking of data for Wrapped officially concludes.
How can I access my Spotify Wrapped?
Once Wrapped is live, users will receive a notification within their Spotify accounts prompting them to explore their interactive data summaries. This feature can be accessed through the Spotify mobile app as well as the website, available for both Premium and free account holders.
What further insights can I uncover with my Spotify data?
Several third-party platforms offer ways to analyze your Wrapped data more deeply. Tools like “How Bad is Your Spotify” use AI to evaluate your musical tastes; “Receiptify” generates a fun graphic resembling a receipt that showcases your top songs; “Instafest” curates a personal music festival lineup based on your favorite artists; and “How NPRCore Are You” measures how closely your tastes align with NPR Music’s selections.
What if I don’t use Spotify?
Other prominent streaming services like Apple Music and YouTube Music have also introduced their versions of Wrapped in recent years. Apple Music’s Replay not only offers subscribers a year-end summary of their listening preferences but also provides monthly updates, distinguishing it from Spotify’s single recap.
YouTube Music features a similar end-of-the-year recap in addition to periodic seasonal releases throughout the year. Earlier this month, it introduced its annual Recap for users, continuing the trend of celebrating users’ musical journeys.
As Spotify prepares for its latest Wrapped release, listeners worldwide are anticipating the insights and surprises that await them in this annual highlight of their music experiences.