Spotify has launched a beta version of a new way to take control of the Taste Profile algorithm that influences the music that gets recommended to you. This is very much a slow and staggered rollout, so you may not see this in your account for some time, but this is really dependent on where you are in the world.
Announced at SXSW, Spotify says that it is “giving you more visibility and control over how your taste shapes your experience”. The level of control takes things a step up from the existing option of removing individual tracks or playlists from your profile.
Taste Profiles themselves are not a new thing, but they are not something that Spotify has talked about a great deal. In writing about the customization options that are making their way to users, the company explains them a little:
Taste Profile lets you see how Spotify understands your taste and shape it yourself, giving you the ability to steer what you see on the Spotify homepage. It brings together what you listen to across music, podcasts, and audiobooks, from the artists and genres you love to the habits that define your day. You might see that you’re starting to explore ’90s alternative rock, or gravitating toward hip-hop with distinctive influences.
If something doesn’t feel quite right, you can tell us by flagging when your profile misses the mark—asking for more or less of a certain vibe, or simply sharing what you’re in the mood for. Your input helps determine what gets prioritized, what gets dialed back, and what you discover next on the Spotify homepage.
Beyond listening patterns, Taste Profile is designed to capture new dimensions of your taste, like your current interests and habits. Maybe you’re training for a marathon and want more upbeat tracks for morning workouts, or maybe you like to listen to news podcasts during your weekday commute. These signals allow for even deeper personalization. You can shape your Taste Profile as much as you’d like, or leave it and enjoy Spotify as usual.
Spotify says that the ability to shape your Taste Profile “will begin rolling out to Premium listeners in New Zealand in the coming weeks”. The company has not provided any further details about when it may expand availability to other parts of the world.
