Spotify DJ has modified the way in which I discover and hearken to music

Spotify has been experimenting with AI in some kind since 2023, when it first debuted its personalised DJ. Within the early days, I felt the DJ was fairly tough. Certain, it will generally present me with new bangers within the type I appreciated or play some outdated but beloved tune I hadn’t considered in many years, however the largest problem was the shortage of actual customization. This improved considerably in 2024 with the introduction of AI playlists, nevertheless it’s been a gradual journey.

Since then, I’ve been frequently utilizing Spotify’s AI options. I usually placed on the DJ when cleansing or figuring out, and I’ve used the AI playlist system to create custom-made playlists of newer music tailor-made to my tastes and extra. Though not everybody has been impressed by Spotify’s AI, I’ve discovered that rigorously constructed prompts end in fairly first rate playlists.

Whereas I’ve been experimenting with these options since day one, I by no means relied on them persistently for music suggestions, principally treating them as curiosities. Nevertheless, this has modified in 2025 with Spotify’s newest AI enhancements. Although I used the DJ frequently earlier than, it was positively the weaker aspect as a result of its incapability to work together or adapt to instant requests. Fortunately, this modified earlier this month when the DJ gained the flexibility to take particular requests.

Between the AI playlists and the brand new DJ enhancements, I genuinely really feel that Spotify’s AI options have modified the way in which I discover and hearken to music for the higher.

Some persons are extraordinarily explicit about their music preferences. They memorize playlist orders and have particular songs they bounce to by reminiscence — my daughter is one among them. There’s nothing improper with this strategy; some folks know precisely what they wish to hearken to and exactly when.

I’m very totally different. My musical tastes can shift from nation to heavy metallic, screamo to pop, after which to various music all inside fifteen minutes. Consequently, I take pleasure in selection and love discovering new songs.

Within the distant previous, most of my new music suggestions got here from the radio. This nonetheless often occurs, however these days, I’m extra probably to decide on Spotify. Merely put, it’s a wonderful device for locating new music and rediscovering forgotten favorites for me.

Till not too long ago, I found music primarily by these strategies:

• Listening to a brand new tune at shops, work conferences, or occasions, then wanting it up and including it to Spotify.
• Utilizing really useful playlists on Spotify’s House part and including favorites to present playlists.
• Shopping random Spotify playlists in my most popular genres, then creating radio playlists from songs I loved, additional increasing my discovery.
• Randomly creating Spotify radio stations based mostly on favourite songs or artists, serving to me rediscover outdated favorites and discover new ones.

In 2023, I added one other technique: Spotify’s DJ. I’d activate the DJ, which might combine new music matching my type with present favorites and forgotten hits in brief segments of round 5 songs every. I’d then add standout tracks to present playlists.

It did an honest job of capturing my type, however I disliked its inflexibility. As an illustration, regardless of primarily listening to instrumental playlists throughout work, the DJ would randomly play these tracks whereas I used to be cleansing or exercising, fully killing the temper.

AI Playlists addressed this problem considerably in 2024, permitting me to construct playlists based mostly on detailed prompts, leading to a protracted checklist of tailor-made suggestions. The important thing lesson I realized: specificity issues. For instance, saying, “Don’t play 80s music,” may yield 80s tracks as a result of inconsistent interpretation. Conversely, saying, “Solely play music from the 60s, 90s, and from 2000 onward,” yielded considerably higher outcomes.

By this level, I discovered myself utilizing the Spotify radio operate much less, although it nonetheless served as a fast technique to uncover new music. And now, with the newest 2025 DJ replace permitting direct requests, I’d cease utilizing the radio operate altogether. The power to interrupt the DJ has been a game-changer, too. For instance, if I’m abruptly within the temper for reggae or easy jazz, I can now request it immediately. No have to settle for regardless of the DJ is at the moment suggesting, and but it’s nonetheless quicker than swapping playlists generally.

Earlier at this time, I requested songs much like “Sharks” by Think about Dragons. Whereas most options weren’t new, the DJ performed a number of favorites and even launched tracks lacking from my present playlists, like “Really feel It Nonetheless” by Portugal. The Man. It additionally redundantly included “Sharks,” however I didn’t thoughts.

Mixed with AI playlists, I’ve found extra new music than ever earlier than in the previous few months or so. Beforehand, I added new songs sporadically, with most of my playlist anchored round tracks from the 80s by the early 2010s. Now, I’ve playlists that includes dozens of songs written after 2020, an enlargement that will have occurred extra slowly and sparsely utilizing my earlier strategies.

Spotify has modified my listening habits in a significant method, however they’re nonetheless not good by any definition.

As a lot as I discover the DJ helpful, particularly now that I can work together with it, the expertise nonetheless leaves a lot to be desired. For one factor, interplay continues to be pretty restricted, as it’s important to manually hit the Request button within the DJ. This won’t appear to be a giant deal, nevertheless it means each time I wish to change up my music, I’ve to take my cellphone out of my pocket. Though I can nonetheless hit the Subsequent button to alter the DJ’s monitor, there’s no technique to work together with it past this.

I might completely like to have some form of voice set off system within the app, or maybe integration with Gemini so I can use Google’s assistant to make requests to the DJ as properly. Contemplating Spotify’s answer makes use of a number of AI applied sciences, together with OpenAI for generative AI elements, it doesn’t appear out of left area that Spotify would ultimately work with Google to make sure Android OS-level controls can work together with all of its core options, together with these AI capabilities.

Past voice triggers, I’d like extra granular customization. At the moment, the DJ makes use of my music playback historical past and its personal inside algorithms, which may be useful, however usually lack context. For instance, it not too long ago prompt songs I had obsessively listened to a month in the past. There’s a cause I ended taking part in them — I had worn them out! Custom-made prompts or persona options might assist inform the DJ why sure tracks are briefly out of rotation and higher hone your temper within the second.

Equally, AI Playlists might use enhancements. Present AI prompts should be extremely particular, and generally the AI hallucinates, suggesting irrelevant songs or too few choices. Easy clarification prompts — “I couldn’t discover actual matches, please make clear” — would considerably improve the person expertise.

Whereas it’s not good, I actually imagine Spotify is heading in the right direction with its AI options. It could have some competitors within the type of options like YouTube Music’s Ask Music AI radio characteristic, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the clear chief on this house for now. In reality, it’s actually the one main music streaming platform that has invested closely in AI integration outdoors of some small take a look at options.

In its present stage, the AI options can yield actually wonderful outcomes or absolute rubbish — it’s a little bit of a coin flip, like most issues involving AI. For individuals who tried it and hated it, it’s additionally vital to notice that it at the moment requires a number of interplay earlier than it will get higher. I’ve observed the extra I skip tracks or complete choices, the extra refined it turns into with its picks. This isn’t fairly the total customization I’d prefer to ultimately see, nevertheless it’s vital to notice that what you get with Spotify DJ on day one isn’t essentially what you’ll get after every week or two of frequently utilizing it.

If Spotify can enhance its AI customization and accuracy out of the gate, all of the above issues will probably disappear, and utilizing the DJ might turn out to be the default gateway for many who aren’t fairly certain what they’re within the temper for.