At a Glance
- Spotify rolls out Prompted Playlists, an AI-powered tool that builds playlists from user-described prompts.
- The feature is live for Premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, with plans for wider rollout.
- It follows an earlier 2024 AI playlist product, adding conversational depth and real-time trend analysis.
- Why it matters: It democratizes playlist creation, letting anyone craft music sets without technical jargon.
Spotify has just introduced a new AI tool that allows users to create playlists by simply describing what they want to hear. The feature, called Prompted Playlists, is available now to Premium subscribers in the United States and Canada. It builds on a 2024 AI playlist product that used simpler prompts such as “get focused at work with instrumental electronica.”
How Prompted Playlists Works
The new tool lets users explain their musical intent in conversational language. In a press demo, Spotify showcased a playlist built from a detailed prompt: “Find me one artist I haven’t listened to yet, but would probably love… Put the songs you think I’ll like the most in the top five spots.” The AI analyzes real-time music trends, charts, culture, and the user’s entire listening history to generate a personalized set.
> “For most people, isn’t a part of their job. You don’t always have the time or the energy to keep building the perfect playlist every time your mood changes, and that’s where prompted playlists will come in,” said J.J. Italiano, Head of Global Music Curation and Discovery at Spotify.
Italiano added that the feature removes the need for genre or industry terminology: “If you can describe a feeling, you can make a playlist.”
Features at a Glance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Conversational Prompting | Users type or speak detailed requests. |
| Real-time Trend Analysis | AI pulls in current charts and cultural data. |
| Personalized History | Uses entire listening history unless users opt out. |
| Shareable Prompts | Prompts can be shared; each user gets a unique playlist. |
| Usage Limits | Beta feature with capped usage; limits may change. |
| Language Availability | Currently only English. |
Flexibility and Control
While the default is to personalize the playlist to the creator’s taste, users can instruct the AI to ignore their listening history or to introduce entirely new artists. This flexibility allows listeners to break out of familiar patterns and discover fresh music.
Prompts do not need musical terminology. Users can ask for playlists inspired by weather, a favorite TV show, or any other non-musical theme. The AI then interprets the intent and builds a set that reflects the user’s context.
A New Creator Path?
Because prompts are shareable, a new type of creator could emerge: those who craft AI prompts that others want to try. The prompt itself stays the same, but each resulting playlist is personalized, giving creators a way to influence others’ listening experiences.
Compatibility and Future Plans
Spotify says Prompted Playlists is the “next evolution” of its earlier AI playlist feature. The two products will coexist side-by-side, which could cause confusion due to their similarities.
The feature is still in beta, so it comes with usage limits that may evolve. It is only available in English for now. Spotify has not announced when it will reach global subscribers; it wants to learn from the U.S. and Canada markets before expanding.
Key Takeaways
- Prompted Playlists lets Premium users build AI-generated playlists from conversational prompts.
- The tool blends real-time trend data with a user’s listening history for highly personalized results.
- Shareable prompts could spawn a new creator niche focused on crafting prompts rather than tracks.
- The feature remains in beta with usage limits and will stay English-only for the time being.
- Spotify plans to roll out globally after gathering insights from U.S. and Canada users.
