Spotify Launches 'Playlist Notes' for Personalizing Music and Podcasts

Spotify announced Monday the launch of “Playlist Notes,” a new feature that lets listeners add their thoughts to the playlists they make. The feature builds on “User Notes,” which the streaming giant debuted last month, allowing people to add personal notes to individual tracks.

With Playlist Notes, users can add context to songs, podcast episodes, and audiobooks in their playlists. Maybe a song reminds you of someone, brings back a specific memory, or is simply a track you think everyone should hear.

To add a note, go to the mobile app. Open a playlist that you either own or collaborate on; tap the three dots next to a track, podcast episode, or audiobook; choose “add note”; and save it. Anyone who can view the playlist can see the note.

Spotify is also bringing the idea to its own editorial playlists. Now Spotify’s editors can add notes explaining why they picked certain songs. To start, listeners will see the feature on some of Spotify’s biggest playlists, including Today’s Top Hits, RapCaviar, Hot Country, All New Pop, and Fresh Finds Hip-Hop.

There’s a new profile feature for those editors, too. Editor Profiles show an editor’s top tracks and albums, along with the playlists they work on. It gives listeners a bit more insight into the people behind Spotify’s curated recommendations.

User-created notes are rolling out on iOS and Android devices in more than 100 markets. Editor notes and profiles are rolling out to free and premium users ages 16 and older in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

While it’s arguably a small feature, it fits into Spotify’s bigger push to make the app feel more social and personal, giving users a chance to explain the stories and reasoning behind their favorite music.