Spotify is adding a new layer of personalisation to its popular Discover Weekly playlist, letting users steer their recommendations by selecting their preferred music genres.
Ten years after launching Discover Weekly—a playlist credited with over 100 billion streams—the streaming giant is rolling out interactive genre filters, starting with Premium subscribers on mobile devices.
For a platform known for its sophisticated recommendation algorithms, the move marks a shift toward giving listeners more direct control. Users will see up to five genre options at the top of their Discover Weekly interface, tailored to their listening history.
Whether you’re hooked on 90s R&B, exploring Afrobeats, or revisiting classic funk, these filters allow you to shape the playlist’s vibe with a single tap.
“Whether you’re in the mood for something familiar or want to switch things up, your playlist will instantly adapt to match your mood,” Spotify said in its announcement. “Helping you discover new favourites and deep cuts from artists you already love.”
Addressing Longstanding User Feedback
Discover Weekly has remained one of Spotify’s signature features since its 2015 debut, delivering fresh recommendations every Monday. But its reliance on algorithmic curation has drawn some criticism from users frustrated by repetitive suggestions or poor genre tagging.
Spotify says it has been listening. In May, the company told Business Insider it had updated the playlist’s genre accuracy and underlying recommendation logic. This latest tweak builds on those changes by letting users guide the algorithm rather than passively accept its choices.
The genre filters aim to solve a common pain point: when Discover Weekly feels like it’s stuck in one musical lane. By selecting specific genres, listeners can instantly nudge the playlist toward new territory or stay firmly in their comfort zone.
How to Use the New Feature
Spotify has already begun rolling out the genre filters to Premium users. To access the feature, subscribers need to ensure they’re running the latest version of the app.
From there, they can head to the “Made for You” hub and open their Discover Weekly playlist. The new interface will display up to five recommended genres at the top, each based on their recent listening habits. Selecting a genre instantly updates the playlist’s recommendations.
In addition to the genre controls, Discover Weekly is also getting a visual refresh. The playlist will now sport a redesigned cover image that aligns with Spotify’s broader visual overhaul of its personalized features.
Part of a Broader Push for Personalization
The Discover Weekly upgrade is just the latest in a series of personalization experiments from Spotify.
Recent features include a “DJ” mode with AI voice commentary, playlist-building tools using text prompts, and a customizable queue that shows upcoming algorithmic picks. Spotify also introduced a “snooze” option that lets users temporarily silence songs they’re tired of without removing them permanently from rotation.
But the new genre filters for Discover Weekly represent a more fundamental shift: giving listeners meaningful ways to influence the recommendations they get each week.
For years, the only options were liking, skipping, or hoping the algorithm would eventually figure it out. Now, Spotify is inviting users to take a more active role in shaping their own musical discovery journey.