Spotify is developing a new feature that will allow users to directly influence their music recommendations by providing written feedback, according to code discovered within the latest version of the app.
Currently, Spotify’s music suggestions are driven by its “Taste Profile,” a system built on listening habits. This profile powers personalized playlists like Discover Weekly and the annual Wrapped summaries. Users can currently refine their Taste Profile by excluding specific tracks or entire playlists, a reactive measure to correct algorithmic drift. The forthcoming “Notes” feature, however, represents a shift toward proactive personalization, allowing users to tell Spotify what they want to hear.
The discovery, reported by Android Authority, stems from a teardown of Spotify app version 9.1.28.385. Code strings within the app reveal plans for a “Notes” feature tied to the Taste Profile. One string suggests a prompt: “Tell us more about you,” whereas another states, “Your notes help influence what you notice on Home.” A placeholder text example reads, “I’ve been listening to a lot of…” indicating a free-form text input field.
Users will be able to add, edit and delete these notes, though limitations appear to be in place. The code suggests both a cap on the total number of notes and a character limit per note. Deleting a note will reportedly lessen its impact on the Taste Profile, encouraging users to carefully consider their input.
Spotify’s current system for refining recommendations is largely exclusionary. As the company explains in its support documentation, excluding a playlist or track reduces its influence on future recommendations, but doesn’t directly communicate positive preferences. The Notes feature aims to address this limitation, allowing users to actively shape their algorithmic experience.
The Android Authority report as well uncovered code hinting at expanded customization options for emoji reactions within Spotify’s messaging feature. Currently, users can react to messages with six pre-defined emojis. The update would allow for custom emoji reactions, providing greater flexibility in expressing responses to friends’ listening activity.
The Notes feature is still under development and was not accessible within the tested version of the app. No official launch date has been announced by Spotify.
