Unlock Your Music Preferences: Spotify Launches ‘Taste Profile’ in the US
Spotify has officially launched its innovative feature, ‘Taste Profile,’ in the United States, marking a significant step in how the platform tailors music recommendations for its largest market, encompassing users aged 18 and older.
Essentially, Taste Profile puts the control of Spotify’s recommendation algorithm right in the hands of users. This feature allows listeners to influence the music and podcasts suggested to them, impacting everything from the popular Discover Weekly playlist to personalized recommendations, as well as the eagerly awaited annual recap known as Spotify Wrapped.
While Spotify’s success is heavily attributed to its algorithm’s ability to grasp listener habits, these suggestions have sometimes fallen short of aligning with users’ changing musical preferences. The platform has been known to suggest tracks that may be too similar, even when users are eager to explore different genres.
With the new Taste Profile feature, users can now directly modify their preferences, requesting a broader array of options or specifying a desire for more or less exposure to particular genres, artists, or overall moods in their playlists.
This feature also allows users to filter out recommendations based on tracks they may listen to frequently but do not wish to see more of—such as calming sleep sounds played at night or music a teenager streams while using a parent’s account.
Previously, Spotify offered limited options to fine-tune the Taste Profile, allowing users to exclude specific tracks or playlists. Recently, a much-anticipated toggle was introduced to ensure that children’s music does not skew parents’ recommendations.
To utilize the Taste Profiles on the mobile application, users should start by tapping their profile picture, scrolling down, and selecting Taste Profile. This section provides insight into how Spotify currently interprets their musical taste across various categories including music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Under the heading “Tell us more,” users can outline their desired adjustments and submit their feedback.
After a few hours, the Home Page of the app will display a refreshed set of recommendations tailored to the user’s input.
Spotify notes that this feature is particularly valuable for those looking to dive into a new genre or era but unsure where to begin, or for those wanting to shift the overall mood of their music selection—such as seeking out more upbeat tracks. Users can also specify the types of podcasts and audiobooks they prefer in order to refine those suggestions.
Currently in beta testing, Spotify has not yet provided a timeline for when this feature will be available to a broader audience.
