Essay | A Case for the Algorithm
I love Spotify.
It’s the only subscription I happily pay for (though, as the price creeps past $10 per month, it’s becoming harder to say that). I use Spotify every day. It’s the only media provider that allows me to find all the new and old content I’m looking for—unlike when I search for a movie or TV show and end up on a wild goose chase to figure out which platform it’s on, whether I have that platform, or if I need to rent the item for $4.99 just to watch it once. To top it off, I like not relying on the platform to create the content.
It’s safe to say I’m a Spotify apologist.
Lately, I’ve noticed more complaints than compliments about the platform. Critics claim Spotify’s algorithm traps users in a loop, cycling through the same artists and songs endlessly. But the thing is—I don’t have that experience at all. And I’m starting to think it’s because users expect Spotify to magically know what they want without putting in any effort to guide it.
For years, my dad has given me books on my current hobbies—graphic design, murals, ceramics—because I’ve talked to him about those interests. He doesn’t have to guess what to get me because I’ve provided the roadmap. Now, every Christmas, I get to open my Spotify Wrapped and my dad gift… wrapped.
Spotify’s algorithm works the same way: it mirrors what you’ve shown interest in.
We shouldn’t expect it to just know that today, instead of Ariana Grande, we want music that feels kind of ‘70s and epic while walking down the street like Ace Frehley’s New York Groove. And how should Spotify know you’re going through a breakup and need to listen to Sasha Alex Sloane’s Ready Yet if you only ever put on the recommended Confidence Boost playlist?
I’ve discovered more artists, albums, and genres through Spotify than I ever did through radio, talking to friends, or seeing local music at a bar. I’ve also gained better context for American history from the 1960s-2000s by learning what music was emerging across genres throughout the decades, listening to what the songs were about, and feeling what they meant.
Spotify is a tool to discover music—a good one for those willing to take some time and become digital crate diggers. So here’s my recommendation to get unstuck from a rhythmic rut:
Go Down a Song Radio Rabbit Hole
Find the last song that really stood out to you and go to that song’s radio station on Spotify. Let it play on shuffle for a while until another song strikes your ear and do the same. Just take an afternoon following the rabbit until you arrive at a new artist or sound.Google a Song You Like
This might sound old-school, but learning the history behind a song deepens your appreciation and broadens your vocabulary for describing what you enjoy. Is it a cover? Does it sample another track? Where is the band from? I listened to Thee Sacred Souls for a year before realizing they were from San Diego. The more you know about one song, the better your search will be for others.Listen to an Entire Album
Ok, some people already do this but it can’t be enough. Find a song that’s popped up a few times and listen to the whole album it’s on. Albums often tell a story or explore a theme, offering a richer, more immersive experience. If you’re stuck in a rut with playlists curated by Spotify, try a playlist created by an artist or band instead.Avoid Super-Massive Playlists
I’ve seen 1,500-track playlists that are a dumping ground for every song you’ve ever liked. If this is you… why? Are you okay? I’m concerned you might be a music hoarder. If you can’t organize your music, it’s no wonder Spotify seems stuck. Treat your playlists like a wardrobe. Instead of tossing all your clothing, shoes, and accessories into one pile with reckless abandon, organize them by season or category. So go on, take an afternoon to make a few new playlists. Group songs from the one playlist to rule them all into teams of 15-20 tracks so when you’re feeling a bit like an ‘80s summer night, you’ll hear Eddie Money’s Take Me Home Tonight followed by INXS’s New Sensation—not Aurora’s I Went Too Far.Play Someone Else’s Music
When I hang out with friends or eat lunch with coworkers, I often ask them what they’re listening to. Especially if we’re putting music on in the background, I put on something someone else has had on rotation. I feel like a broken record here but we get the point, right? New music exposure, getting to know your friends better, getting a few new tracks into your algorithm… blah, blah-blah, blah, blah (said as Chandler would from Friends).
I know, these all sound so simple and obvious but like, are we actually doing any of these?
When I brought this topic up last week, someone told me they had the same problem: Spotify kept playing Fleetwood Mac on every playlist, even though they didn’t like the band that much.
“Do you skip the songs?” I asked.
“Eh, I just let it play.”
Well, of course Spotify keeps playing it! It thinks you love Fleetwood Mac because you let the songs play every time. It thinks you think Fleetwood Mac is literally a no-skip band.
It dawned on me how easily the person we act as can differ from the person we are. Something as small as letting Dreams play for the 50th time instead of manually selecting This Must Be the Place by Talking Heads means we’re blaming the mirror for not reflecting who we think we are.
Spotify has like 500 million users, 10 million artists, and billions of listening patterns to process every day. There’s no way Spotify doesn’t have what you’re looking for. So, instead of getting frustrated that Spotify is “ruining music” because it plays you the same songs every time you open the app, take the wheel and drive through the landscape to find your next favorite parking spot in the lyrical landscape of available music.
