Spotify’s Prompted Playlist feature is not in itself a new thing, but the streaming giant has just introduced a significant update that may help to broaden its appeal. From the start, Prompted Playlist has been powered by artificial intelligence, but now the scope of the feature has been expanded.
Originally designed to create music playlists using AI, you can now use text prompts to create a playlist of podcasts as well. This is a Premium tier feature, but for subscribers this is an upgrade that opens up new possibilities.
Spotify’s Global Head of Podcast Editorial, Lizzy Hale, says of the change: “Podcast fans are always looking for their next great listen. Prompted Playlist makes discovery feel effortless and personal. For creators, it unlocks powerful new opportunities for discovery, bringing both back catalog and new episodes to audiences who are actively signaling what they want to hear”.
In a post announcing the expansion, Spotify says of the Prompted Playlists update:
Starting today, Prompted Playlist is expanding beyond music to now include podcasts. Launched earlier this year in beta, this feature lets you steer the algorithm by creating playlists based on your listening history and real-time signals on Spotify, including trends and charts, so the playlist reflects both your tastes and what’s happening in the world around you.
You can edit your prompt or start over at any time. You can also set your playlist to update daily or weekly so it always feels fresh. Episodes and chapters in the playlist include a short note about why it landed in your mix, helping you understand the connection.
More than 34 million podcasts are discovered for the first time every week on Spotify. Now that Prompted Playlist includes podcasts, we’re making it easier to find episodes that match your unique mood, interests, and curiosities.
The feature is quite open-ended, so if you are struggling to think of ideas about how to use it, Spotify has a few prompt suggestions to help you get started:
To explore big ideas in science and innovation
Prompt: Build me a podcast playlist all about science and innovation. Include big discoveries, weird breakthroughs, and things I had no idea I needed to know about.
To catch up on the latest pop culture
Prompt: Create a podcast playlist with the biggest entertainment news from the past few days. Include all things music, film, fashion, and major cultural moments.
To get lost in a true crime mystery
Prompt: Make a playlist of true crime investigations you think I’d be interested in. Add highly rated series with lots of twists and turns.
Spotify says that Prompted Playlist (beta) is now rolling out in English to Premium users in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden, giving people a way to “discover new shows, go deep on a specific topic, or build a curated lineup to match their mood”.
