Spotify unveiled a new feature on Wednesday that gives users unprecedented control over the streaming service’s recommendation algorithms for the first time. Dubbed “Prompted Playlists,” the feature is initially rolling out to Premium subscribers in New Zealand.
According to Spotify, the tool is currently available only in English and remains in a testing phase, with further refinements planned before expanding to additional markets.
The company explains that this new capability enables users to describe exactly what they want to hear in a personalized playlist—one that captures their musical journey in its entirety. Unlike standard playlists that focus mainly on recent listening habits, Prompted Playlists incorporate a user’s full listening history since they first joined Spotify, which the company says sets it apart from other offerings.
This feature builds upon Spotify’s existing AI-powered playlist functionality, first introduced last year, which also operates via text-based prompts. Similar to those AI playlists, Prompted Playlists let users request specific content through written instructions—but now with support for longer, more detailed prompts. This enhanced flexibility stems from the integration of world knowledge into Spotify’s updated AI system, a company representative told TechCrunch.
What further distinguishes Prompted Playlists is their ability to draw from deeper historical listening data and allow users to customize how often the playlist refreshes—options not available in Spotify’s other AI-driven playlist products.
For instance, Spotify suggests Premium users might ask for “music from my favorite artists over the past five years” and then refine the request by adding “deep cuts I haven’t heard yet.”
In another example involving a more elaborate prompt, Spotify notes users could request something like “high-energy pop and hip-hop tracks perfect for a 30-minute 5K run, maintaining a steady pace, then transitioning into calming songs for cooldown,” or “songs from this year’s biggest movies and most talked-about TV shows that match my taste.”
Users can continue refining their prompts for greater precision and choose how frequently the playlist updates—daily, weekly, or on another schedule. The goal is to empower listeners to essentially create their own tailored versions of flagship Spotify features like Discover Weekly, but focused on specific genres, eras, or personal preferences, or even customized takes on genre-specific offerings like Daily Mixes.
Spotify adds that each generated playlist will include descriptive context explaining why certain tracks were recommended. To help users get started, the platform will also offer a set of suggested prompts.
Spotify isn’t alone in giving users more say over algorithmic curation. Instagram also launched a new feature today that lets users control the types of short videos they see in their feed. Meanwhile, Bluesky—a decentralized alternative to X—already allows users to replace its default algorithm with custom ones of their own choosing.
