Spotify has announced a new feature that will give users more control over the music recommendations they receive. The update, revealed at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, will allow listeners to review and edit their Taste Profile for the first time.
Speaking at the event, Gustav Söderström said the company is launching a beta feature that enables users to review and modify their Taste Profile, an algorithm-generated model that reflects their listening habits.
This profile plays a central role in how Spotify recommends music. It influences personalized playlists such as Discover Weekly, Made For You recommendations, and the popular year-end recap Spotify Wrapped.
By editing their Taste Profile, listeners will be able to fine-tune future recommendations and shape what appears on their home page.
Initial rollout for premium users
The new feature will first be available to Premium subscribers in New Zealand as part of a beta rollout.
Users will be able to access a dedicated section in the app that displays all their listening activity in one place. This includes:
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Music
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Podcasts
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Audiobooks
From there, users can adjust their profile and request more or less of a certain type of music or vibe, which will directly influence future recommendations.
Why Spotify is introducing change
The update addresses a long-standing problem faced by many Spotify users.
In many households, multiple people use the same Spotify account. For example, family members may play music through shared devices like smart speakers or TVs in the living room. Teenagers may also connect to the account while driving using Apple CarPlay.
As a result, listening habits recorded by the algorithm may not accurately reflect the account owner’s actual taste.
Another issue arises when users play content that does not match their usual preferences.
Some people use Spotify for sleep sounds, relaxing background tracks, or music for their children. These listening sessions often become part of the Taste Profile, which can distort recommendations.
Because users rarely have the time to manually remove these tracks or playlists, their algorithmic profile gradually becomes cluttered with music they do not actually enjoy.
The problem has also affected Spotify’s annual listening recap.
Many users have complained that their Spotify Wrapped results were inaccurate because children or other family members used the same account. For years, listeners have asked the company for a way to correct this issue.
The new Taste Profile editing tool appears to be Spotify’s response to those requests.
Spotify says the feature will roll out in New Zealand in the coming weeks before expanding to other markets worldwide.
Once widely available, the update is expected to give users more control over their listening data and improve the accuracy of Spotify’s recommendation system.
