Tag: curated playlist

Spotify’s Editors Pick Their Best Songs of the Year (So Far)

June 30, 2025

When it comes to new music, Spotify’s team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They’re at the forefront of new trends around the world, working to uncover new genres and introduce listeners to emerging artists. And though 2025 is only just heating up, they’ve been hard at work to help fans discover the best of the best.  

Now, we’re excited to reveal Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of the Year (So Far), a genre-spanning playlist of the 50 standout tracks that caught our editors’ attention. As they narrowed the list down, they considered tracks with exceptional songwriting, musicality, uniqueness, and cultural impact. 

The Editorial Watch Feed, which first appeared in our playlist alongside our year-end list in 2024, is also back, allowing our editors to share their expertise with fans directly. Providing dynamic insights into every song on the list, our in-house experts break down the qualities that make their picks great.

“Our Editors’ Picks playlist isn’t about what’s trending – it’s about the tracks that stood out for all the right reasons,” said Sulinna Ong, Spotify’s Global Head of Editorial. “Our music editors dug deeper to spotlight songs that intrigued us; sonically, culturally, or through exceptional songwriting. From the comeback of trip hop and dreamy indie-folk anthems to modern R&B staples, hard-hitting hip-hop, and genre-blending Latin tracks, each selection reflects the depth and range of the music that resonated with us. It’s a playlist shaped by real human editorial perspective, and we hope listeners find something meaningful in it.”

Curious who made the cut? Here are our editors’ picks for the best songs of 2025 so far. 

Addison Rae – “Headphones On”
After – “300 Dreams”
Baby Nova – “Too Pretty For Buffalo”
Bad Bunny – “DtMF”
Balu Brigada – “Backseat”
Bon Iver – “There’s A Rhythmn”
CA7RIEL, Paco Amoroso – “IMPOSTOR”
Cameron Winter – “Love Takes Miles”
Central Cee, 21 Savage – “GBP”
chloe moriondo – “shoreline”
Chloe Qisha – “21st Century Cool Girl”
Clipse, Pusha T, Malice – “Ace Trumpets”
Dasha – “Not at This Party”
Ecca Vandal – “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE”
Erika de Casier – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Ethel Cain – “Nettles”
Fontaines DC – “Before You I Just Forget”
Four Tet – “Into Dust (Still Falling)”
Fridayy, Meek Mill – “Proud of Me”
Girl Group – “Yay Saturday”
GIVEON – “TWENTIES”
Hannah Cohen – “Earthstar”
Jaze, Caloncho – “pensé en ti”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Khamari – “Head in A Jar”
kwn – “back of the club”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist – “Life Is Beautiful”
Leon Thomas – “NOT FAIR”
Leon Vynehall, Beau Nox – “Cruel Love”
MacKenzie Porter, Jake Etheridge, Thelma & James – “Happy Ever After You”
Mariah the Scientist – “Burning Blue”
Mei Semones – “Animaru”
Miley Cyrus – “End of the World”
Model/Actriz – “Diva”
MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)”
Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov – “Flowers”
Obongjayar – “Sweet Danger”
PLUTO, YKNIECE – “WHIM WHAMIEE”
Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)”
Robert Randolph, Judith Hill – “When Will The Love Rain Down”
rusowsky – “malibU”
Sam Barber – “Man of the Year”
Sammy Virji – “I Guess We’re Not The Same”
Saya Gray – “..THUS IS WHY (I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE)”
sombr – “undressed”
The Marias – “Back To Me”
Turnpike Troubadours – “On The Red River”
Turnstile – “LOOK OUT FOR ME”
Wednesday – “Elderberry Wine”

Press play below to hear all of our top songs of the year so far:

Discover Weekly Turns 10: Celebrating 100 Billion+ Tracks Streamed and a Decade of Personalized Discovery

June 30, 2025

There’s nothing quite like the magic of finding music that feels made just for you. Creating that sense of excitement, curiosity, and instant urge to share is what makes Spotify more than just an app. Ten years ago, it inspired us to launch Discover Weekly, a playlist that updates every Monday to spark those unforgettable “first listens.” 

With more than 100 billion tracks streamed, Discover Weekly is the playlist that makes Mondays something to look forward to, connecting listeners with their next favorite artists or songs. Every week, the playlist ignites over 56 million new artist discoveries, with 77% coming from emerging artists. 


Over the years, Discover Weekly has become a Monday ritual for millions of listeners—a discovery journey into songs and artists handpicked just for them. As Spotify’s first personalized playlist, it ushered in a wave of innovations, like Release Radar, Blend, daylist, DJ, and AI Playlist, each building on the idea that music discovery should feel effortless and personal. Through it all, Discover Weekly has remained a trusted source for helping listeners find their next favorite songs.

Here’s a closer look at the impact Discover Weekly has made over the years:

More control, more discovery, and a fresh new look

To mark this milestone, we’re upgrading Discover Weekly with a refreshed look. The playlist’s vibrant new design reflects its ever-evolving nature and the dynamic energy of weekly discovery, bringing users something new every Monday.

But this isn’t just a visual refresh—we’re also making Discover Weekly even more personal. Starting today and rolling out on mobile over the coming weeks, new controls at the top of your playlist let you guide the vibe with a simple tap. Choose from up to five genre options, personalized based on your listening history, and you’ll get a fresh 30-track playlist inspired by your selection.

Whether you’re in the mood for something familiar or want to switch things up, your playlist will instantly adapt to match your mood, helping you discover new favorites and deep cuts from artists you already love. These controls are currently rolling out to Spotify Premium users, with plans to bring them to more listeners soon. 

Here’s to a decade of discovery! Head to the Made For You hub and hit play on your Discover Weekly to see what you find.

Glastonbury 2025 Is Calling: Discover Your Next Favorite Artist With Our Personalized Experience

June 20, 2025

In just a few days, the pilgrimage to Worthy Farm begins. Glastonbury, the legendary green-field gathering of music lovers, is nearly upon us. Get ready for a weekend packed with epic performances, unforgettable moments, and—if you’ve prayed to the weather gods—no mud.

This year Spotify is back for a second time, bringing the power of personalization and discovery to your Glastonbury 2025 festivities. After a successful partnership last year, we’re leveling up the fun with even more ways to connect with the music and artists you love.

Discover the performers that vibe with your taste

With our personalized in-app experience on mobile, you can see exactly how well your music taste aligns with the Glastonbury lineup, find out which artists you’ve been listening to the most, and discover new favorites you’re bound to love with a playlist crafted just for you.

 

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And for those who’ll be on the ground in Glastonbury, we’re once again teaming up with Vodafone on the Official Glastonbury App. Just link your Spotify account within the app and we’ll whip up a curated lineup of recommendations based on your listening habits, highlighting artists you already love and introducing you to potential new obsessions. It’s like having your own personal music guru guiding you through the festival.

Dive into our revamped Glastonbury hub and official playlist

The Glastonbury 2025 hub on Spotify is your one-stop shop for all things Glastonbury. Browse individual stage lineups, discover hidden gems, and explore a handpicked selection of Glastonbury-related podcasts and audiobooks. It’s the perfect way to get hyped for the festival and keep the vibes going long after the last note has faded.

Your official personalized Glastonbury 2025 playlist, found in the Glastonbury hub, takes cues from your listening habits to offer a musical experience catered to you. 

“We’re delighted to once again partner with Glastonbury to bring Spotify’s hugely popular personalization and discovery tools to support the world’s greatest celebration of music,” said Marc Hazan, Vice President Global Marketing and Partnerships for Spotify. “We hope the sharecards, the Glastonbury hub on Spotify, and the personalized lineups via the app will help fans feel an even deeper connection to the artists they love before, during, and after their time at Worthy Farm.”

For the Record caught up with Spotify Senior Music Editor Shannon Carragher to get the inside scoop on the Glastonbury 2025 playlist, the in-app experience, and the performances she’s most excited for. 

What makes the perfect Glastonbury playlist?

Variety, familiarity, and curiosity. That’s what we set out to capture in the official Glastonbury 2025 playlist. The festival is packed with everything from underground DJs spinning at Stonebridge Bar and Shangri La, to brand-new artists playing smaller stages, to massive headline acts, so we wanted the playlist to reflect that same range.

The official Glastonbury 2025 playlist is also tailored to you. The sequencing of the songs selected by our editors are shaped around your listening habits, so the artists you already love will shine through, while also introducing you to others playing the festival who might just become new favorites.

How does the in-app integration with Spotify enhance the fan experience at the festival?

It’s all about making the experience better for fans. In the Glastonbury app, you can connect your Spotify account to get personalized lineup recommendations based on your listening habits. You’ll see your top 10 artists from the lineup, along with a broader selection when you tap Discover More, helping you uncover acts you’re likely to love.

Once you’ve found someone that interests you, you can head to their artist page in the app to check out their most popular tracks, with a direct link to listen on Spotify. It’s a seamless way to explore the lineup, discover new favorites, and get even more excited for the festival.

Who are you most excited to see perform at Glastonbury this year?

 

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If I had to pick a few, CMAT’s debut on the Pyramid Stage is right up there. It’s going to be a career-defining moment and, honestly, so much fun to watch. Then there’s Sunday: Turnstile into Wolf Alice into The Maccabees. That’s the dream. An explosive set of Baltimore hardcore finally hitting Worthy Farm, followed by a transcendent and ethereal performance from North London’s finest, and then the reunion I’ve been waiting almost a decade for from South London legends. I’ll probably be sobbing through all of it.

For all things Glastonbury 2025, check out this year’s hub and your very own personalized playlist.

Songs of Summer 2025: Spotify’s Global Editors Predicts the Anthems That Will Soundtrack the Season

May 20, 2025

It’s officially summer on Spotify and, once again, our team of best-in-class global music editors is revealing Spotify’s Songs of Summer 2025 predictions for the Northern Hemisphere. 

With a proven track record of predicting the summer’s biggest songs, Spotify’s editorial team blends cultural expertise, editorial instinct, and streaming data to curate our annual Songs of Summer list—cementing Spotify as the ultimate destination for summer listening.

This summer’s hottest tracks capture many musical movements across regions and styles, and the 30 initial picks from our editors represent a little bit of everything. 

2025 GLOBAL SONGS OF SUMMER PREDICTIONS

Listed alphabetically by artist first name 

The biggest trends shaping this year’s Songs of Summer

As these hits promise to heat up the summer, our editors are seeing a number of trends unfold, including:

Our editors will be watching (and listening) all summer long as new music drops, unexpected hits take off, and the listening landscape evolves—so, be on the lookout for updates to our list here and across Spotify News social channels.  

Listen to all our editors’ picks in the 2025 Songs of Summer playlist:

Spotify Expands AI Playlist in Beta to Premium Listeners in 40+ New Markets

April 24, 2025

Playlists have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Since AI Playlist in beta launched last year, Premium users have used it to create millions of playlists, with the goal of finding music that fits any mood or moment.

Now we’re bringing this feature in English to Premium users in more than 40 new markets, including countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, helping even more users effortlessly turn their most creative ideas into playlists. 

Playlists on Spotify are great sources for discovery, fostering deeper relationships between artists and fans. AI Playlist does just that by bringing users another way to express themselves through the music they love. Just start with a simple idea like “high-energy electropop that takes me to another world” or “workout music to make my ex jealous.”

Here’s how it works: 

  • Go to Your Library and tap the “+” button at the top-right corner, then select “AI Playlist.” Or, head to the Search tab on Spotify and search “AI Playlist.” 
  • Then, select one of the suggested ideas or simply type your own.
  • Spotify will suggest songs for a personalized playlist made just for you based on the tracks, artists, genres, and more we think you’ll like. Have notes? It’s easy to revise and refine—just ask for what you want, like “more upbeat” or “happier songs.” 
    • Pro tip: The most successful playlists are generated through “genre,” “mood,” or “artist” requests. But animals, activities, movie characters, colors, and even emojis are all fair game too.
  • To get started, we suggest trying out: 
    • “Afrobeat tracks to heat up the dance floor”
    • “Trending K-Pop hits I need to know” 
    • “2000s reggaeton for soaking up the sun”
    • “Songs to hype me up for the football match” 
    • “Upbeat Latin songs from my top genre”
    • With AI Playlists in beta, we’re still actively learning and iterating with each exchange. We will continue to refine AI Playlist to best serve our listeners and bring the feature to even more users. 

Available markets as of April 24, 2025: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Canada, Curaçao, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Keke Palmer Steps Out of Character to Share Advice, Anthems, and Four Exclusive Spotify Playlists

November 16, 2021

Actor, singer, writer, viral meme creator, producer, and Emmy Award winner Keke Palmer is a creative force. The star is a master of reinvention, charming the internet with her off-the-cuff antics. Whether you know her from Hustlers or recognize her voice from hosting the Met Gala red carpet (where she coined the now viral sound, “I know it ain’t Thee Stallion!”), chances are she’s crossed your screen.

Among her many creative projects are a handful of characters and sketches that the performer shares on social media. Longtime fans have seen the personas evolve into a one-woman show, Turnt Up with the Taylors, which recently won Keke a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. Now, she’s taking her characters into a new dimension—the written word. Her newly released collection of five short stories, Southern Belle Insults, follows main character Janet on her journey to self-confidence with the help of four magical wigs. Each new ’do conjures an alter ego, transforming Janet into Lady Miss Jaqueline, Chelsea, Keri, and Sophie. 

To really get to know the fabulously eccentric characters, Keke curated four exclusive Spotify character playlists. For the Record spoke with Keke to learn more about her inspirations, her song selections, and her personal anthems.

You’re an Emmy Award winner, a published author, star in Jordan Peele’s upcoming film, and have even more projects in the works. Do you have any advice for aspiring creators?

My advice is to go for it. When I think about Southern Belle Insults, I literally just went for it on my page, SNL style, and did a sketch. Eventually I’ve been able to build out a world. Don’t wait for the platform or the situation to come to you. Be willing to go out there and set the tone yourself because you never know what that can inspire.

Who or what inspires your wit and your performances?

Being under the gun all the time. It’s a survival technique, to be quite honest with you, to avoid moments of awkwardness. A lot of my quote-unquote talent, especially when it comes to personality or comedy, is based on survival. “Oh, I don’t know what to do now. Let me get silly.” It’s how I deal with pressure situations and happens to also be a skill that I can use in a job like entertainment. When I did [TV show] Scream Queens, I also saw a lot of great improv skills from Niecy Nash.

Did you feel like you incorporated her lessons into your characters?

The thing I picked up most is how much she trusted herself. Obviously my brain isn’t going to create improv in the same way hers does because that’s just not possible. However, I understood from watching her that there was a lot of trust going on. And that helped me when it came to my own stuff, to just trust that I know what I’m doing. Have fun with it. Don’t be afraid. Be honest. Be the truth in the scene.

Turning to the playlists, what was the experience like curating these? Can you tell us which song most represents each character? 

It was a lot of fun. My music range is different from the music I perform myself, so it was exciting to be able to identify with those styles through the characters. I wanted to capture the tone and vibe of each character’s voice through the songs. For Lady Miss Jacqueline and her feminist-but-old-school edge, there are two songs that I most identify with her: “Criminal” [by Fiona Apple] and “Private Dancer” by Tina Turner. Those two anchor the playlist.

For Chelsea “Barbie” Taylor, I’d say “No Scrubs” [by TLC] and “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette. Because the thing about Chelsea “Barbie” Taylor is she’s a culture queen, so she can give you Alanis Morissette one minute and she can give you Blu Cantrell the next. She’s that pop culture chick.

Keri is that more turnt up, I-don’t-give-a-****-type vibe. The two songs that really represent her are “G4L” by Rihanna and “Alone” by Heart. Again, they’re quite diverse. She’s going to be listening to rock and “G4L” because Rihanna is a pop queen who has jumped across many different genres in her time.

Sophie’s a romantical, whimsical kind of character. The main songs that represent her would be “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King and “It’s Getting Better” by Cass Elliot, because she’s always trying to be inspired and empowered. She’s looking for the grace and the gratitude in every situation.

Speaking of songs that most represent someone, do you have a song that you would say captures you, or a personal anthem?

I used to always say “One Step at a Time” by Jordan Sparks because I really do feel that [sings] “you take one step at a time.” It’s such an inspiring song. On one hand, it’s a cross between that and “Firework” by Katy Perry. And then on the other hand, it’s a song of mine that I wrote some years ago. It was titled “I Don’t Belong to You,” and it’s about how I don’t belong to other people’s ideas of me. I’m a strong believer that I get the right to change at any point in time that I want to change, and nothing defines me other than me.

Whether you’re searching for some Lady Miss empowerment or simply want to get inside Keke’s head, there’s a playlist with your name on it. Explore the four exclusive curated character playlists now.