As the year draws to a close, social media feeds are flooded with Spotify Wrapped, a corporate-branded scorecard that claims to tell us what our musical tastes are based on how many times we've streamed certain albums. While it can be fun to see how others have enjoyed music over the past 12 months, this format encourages listeners to abandon deep consideration of their own musical memories and instead accept a one-size-fits-all definition of "best" music.
By entrusting Spotify's algorithms with our year-end reflections, we're essentially outsourcing our relationship with music. We're no longer taking the time to process our thoughts, learn from our experiences, or even write down what matters to us about the music that has shaped our years. Instead, we're handing over this labor to tech companies who are more interested in making a profit than preserving our memories.
This trend is not just limited to Spotify Wrapped. Other streaming services have launched their own year-end recap campaigns, and it's only possible because of user-surveillance practices. These advertising campaigns often prioritize the interests of corporations over those of artists, reinforcing the notion that what matters most is not artistic value but rather commercial success.
As we navigate a world where consumer-facing AI is increasingly prevalent, it's essential to recognize the importance of our own critical thinking and creative expression. By sharing our own personal lists, whether handwritten or digital, we can reclaim ownership over our musical memories and celebrate the music that has truly resonated with us.
So, what will we opt into instead? Consider taking the time to write a list based on what you actually connected with – not just what Spotify thinks is popular. Share it if you feel like it, even if it's just a notes app screenshot or a scribbled, handwritten list that you photograph and share with a caption. By doing so, we can resist the temptation of corporate-defined musical values and create our own narratives around the music that matters to us.
It may require some research, but by taking control of our own year-end reflections, we can determine what parameters matter most to us. We might compile lists of overlooked records, local releases, or live shows. Or, we could celebrate new-to-you music from the past – the possibilities are endless. By doing so, we reclaim a sense of agency over our relationship with music and preserve the memories that truly shape who we are.
By entrusting Spotify's algorithms with our year-end reflections, we're essentially outsourcing our relationship with music. We're no longer taking the time to process our thoughts, learn from our experiences, or even write down what matters to us about the music that has shaped our years. Instead, we're handing over this labor to tech companies who are more interested in making a profit than preserving our memories.
This trend is not just limited to Spotify Wrapped. Other streaming services have launched their own year-end recap campaigns, and it's only possible because of user-surveillance practices. These advertising campaigns often prioritize the interests of corporations over those of artists, reinforcing the notion that what matters most is not artistic value but rather commercial success.
As we navigate a world where consumer-facing AI is increasingly prevalent, it's essential to recognize the importance of our own critical thinking and creative expression. By sharing our own personal lists, whether handwritten or digital, we can reclaim ownership over our musical memories and celebrate the music that has truly resonated with us.
So, what will we opt into instead? Consider taking the time to write a list based on what you actually connected with – not just what Spotify thinks is popular. Share it if you feel like it, even if it's just a notes app screenshot or a scribbled, handwritten list that you photograph and share with a caption. By doing so, we can resist the temptation of corporate-defined musical values and create our own narratives around the music that matters to us.
It may require some research, but by taking control of our own year-end reflections, we can determine what parameters matter most to us. We might compile lists of overlooked records, local releases, or live shows. Or, we could celebrate new-to-you music from the past – the possibilities are endless. By doing so, we reclaim a sense of agency over our relationship with music and preserve the memories that truly shape who we are.
they're just a reminder that companies like spotty are more interested in making us conform to their idea of "best" music than in preserving our personal tastes and memories. i mean, can't we just keep track of what we've listened to ourselves without relying on some fancy algorithm? it's not like we're missing out on anything by doing so... plus, think about all the art that gets lost in the shuffle when they prioritize commercial success over actual talent 
. Like, I get it, it's fun to see what other people have been listening to, but when it comes down to it, those algorithms just can't compare to our own personal tastes. We're just handing over control of our memories to some faceless tech giant and their profit-driven motives 
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. So, I'm gonna take my time this year-end season and create a list that's truly mine – flaws and all. And if you're feeling it too, share your own list and let's celebrate our unique tastes together 
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. They're just trying to make a buck off our musical tastes without even considering what's actually important to us. I mean, think about it - we're outsourcing our own connection to music by trusting some algorithm to tell us what's "best" for us. Newsflash: that's not how we truly understand ourselves or the music we love 
. What if we take control and make our own lists, based on what resonates with us, not just what's popular? That's how I want to experience music - personally, creatively, and on my own terms 
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they're more interested in getting your data than actually helping you discover new music 
why can't we just make our own playlists and share them instead? 
it's like, I know it's fun to see what others are listening to, but let's be real, it's not gonna give us any insight into ourselves. 
It's all about those algorithms and profit margins over actual musical appreciation. And don't even get me started on the artists getting left in the dust... I swear, if I see one more "artist of the year" list that's basically just a rehash of what Spotify thinks is popular, I'm gonna lose it 
. But I'm gonna opt out and make my own list, no matter how old-school it sounds. I'll write down the songs that really mean something to me, or share a screenshot of my notes app... whatever it takes to keep our musical memories from being hijacked by tech 
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. But seriously, what happened to us taking control of our own playlists and writing down why certain songs matter to us? It's like we're outsourcing our relationships with music 
. We deserve to celebrate the music that speaks to us, not just whatever Spotify thinks is trending 
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I mean, can't we just make our own lists instead? Like, why rely on some algorithm to tell us what we've been listening to? It's all about the format, you know? A little too structured for my taste. But hey, maybe it's fun to see how others have enjoyed music... as long as we don't forget to add our own personal touches 
... said no one ever. It's like they're trying to sell you on what's "best" instead of actually helping you discover new jams that actually matter to YOU. Like, who needs personalized recommendations from some faceless AI when you can just take a minute to think about the music that's been playing in your head all day? 
I mean, what's the point of having all these playlists and features if you're not even actually listening to what matters? It's like they're telling us that our personal taste in music doesn't matter, only what's popular. And don't even get me started on how much data they collect from us... it's creepy 
What we need is for people to share their own playlists and tell their own stories about the music that means something to them. That's how we can really connect with each other over our love of music! 
maybe it's time to start sharing our own lists and celebrating what really speaks to us?