"And, make no mistake, they will be five songs you're really into right now, because that's how many of these services work-and it's not because everyone else has the same taste in music as you. For instance, any Spotify playlist that says "created for" in the header is catered to the individual user, based on their listening history. There's nothing wrong with that, necessarily-it can be nice to know you're going to hear songs you like. But there are downsides."
"Mostly, this feature makes it hard to discover new music. Maybe you want a little bit of an idea of what's going on in the broader culture. Maybe you love discovering new songs. Music-streaming services have a tendency to stick the same songs into every playlist and radio station, but there's a way to get out of the same ol' song rut."
Streaming services often fill personalized playlists with a small set of frequently played songs, typically five tracks. Personalized playlists labeled "created for" are tailored to individual listening history and prioritize familiar songs. Such personalization increases enjoyment by surfacing preferred tracks but reduces exposure to unfamiliar music. The emphasis on user-specific recommendations makes broader cultural discovery more difficult and encourages repetitive listening habits. Listeners who want to explore new songs or understand wider musical trends may find algorithmic curation limiting. Two tools can help listeners escape algorithmic repetition and discover new music beyond standard recommendations.
Read at Fast Company
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