After a long anticipated wait for the release of Spotify Wrapped, students were left with mixed feelings about the results and changes from previous years. This annual tradition, where Spotify users receive a personalized summary of their most listened-to songs, artists, and genres has become a cultural sensation that has become an exciting topic among classmates.  While the concept remains the same, this year, the music company used AI to make the experience more personalized based on the listener’s history and used an AI-powered DJ to create the playlists for the release to last longer than quick reaction. 

The release of Spotify Wrapped has become more than just a feature, but a trend across social media, which only built up the already anticipated event. Like many people, Junior Tyler Smith heard from word-of-mouth of the upcoming event.

“I didn’t know Spotify Wrapped had been released until I heard people talking about it, and then I wanted to check it out.” Smith said.

Though Junior Jon Connor Henry uses both Apple Music and Spotify, he was quick to express how he felt as he awaited the release of both platforms’ annual recap of the year. 

 “I looked forward to Spotify Wrapped so much in the making. I couldn’t wait for it to be released.” Henry said.

While the use of AI was still able to reach the typical standards for Spotify Wrapped results, students have spoken about how this change made the experience not feel the same. One of the most notable changes was the use of tracking listening history to provide the listener with “phase” titles to show how the person had changed. This change took the place of providing the top genres, as has been shown in previous years. Junior Alise Mien, a regular Spotify listener, expressed that while she felt her results were accurate, she disliked the changes. 

“I felt like last year was a lot more specific and this year was more of an overview. The results seemed more general with the AI phases instead of the genres.” Mein said.

Other listeners, however, felt the opposite, enjoying the features of this year’s Wrapped, but feeling as though the results were not accurate. Junior Audrey Katzenberger believes her listening has changed drastically over the years, and doesn’t see how that is displayed in her results. 

“I was embarrassed by my results because Taylor Swift was my number one and I haven’t listened to her in forever. I do think the results were accurate except for Taylor,” Katzenberger said.

One thing that students who took note of their listening recap had in common, was the confidence that new conversations are sparked as people compare their Spotify Wrapped with one another. Junior Lillian O’berg found how, in these new conversations, she has been able to form new connections with other students.

“When I see other people’s Spotify Wrapped get posted, I find out that they might like the same music as me and I can go talk about music with them. I make friends with people who I never would have thought to talk to.” O’berg said.