Spotify is testing a new AI-driven tool that offers users more influence over what the platform recommends.

Called Prompted Playlists, the feature is rolling out first to Premium subscribers in New Zealand as the company experiments with a more customisable listening experience.

Spotify says the move marks a major step in personalising music discovery.

Spotify revealed on Wednesday that the new feature is part of its ongoing effort to give listeners greater control over how the platform’s algorithm curates music.
Initially available only in English and in beta, Prompted Playlists will gradually expand to more markets after further testing.

Unlike traditional playlists that rely heavily on recent listening activity, the new tool scans a user’s entire listening history — from the day they joined Spotify — to generate a playlist that reflects the “full arc” of their taste.

The new feature builds on the AI playlist option introduced last year, but with several improvements. Users can now write longer, more detailed prompts with specific instructions because the updated AI model incorporates broader world knowledge, a company representative told TechCrunch.

This means a user can request playlists shaped by mood, genre, activity, or even historical preferences, and then refine them further.

More customisation

Subscribers can adjust the prompt as much as they want — making it more detailed, more specific, or more personal.
In addition, they can decide how often the playlist should refresh, choosing from daily, weekly, or other intervals.

This makes the feature different from Spotify’s existing AI playlists such as Discover Weekly or Daily Mix, as users can now create their own customised versions based on themes, genres, or specific periods in their listening journey.

Spotify shared examples such as:

• “Music from my top artists from the last five years”

  • refined further with “deep cuts I haven’t heard yet.”

• “High-energy pop and hip-hop for a 30-minute 5K run that keeps a steady pace before easing into relaxing songs for a cool-down.”

• “Music from this year’s biggest films and most-talked-about TV shows that match my taste.”

Each playlist also comes with a short explanation describing why specific songs are included.

Spotify’s move reflects a broader trend among social and streaming platforms. Instagram also launched a feature on Wednesday that lets users control which types of Reels appear in their feed.

Similarly, Bluesky, the decentralized alternative to X, allows users to swap out its algorithm for one of their choosing.