In Defense of my Spotify Wrapped
It’s that time of year again: for spending time with family, for celebrating the holidays, and most of all, for obsessing over Spotify Wrapped. Each year, the highly anticipated Spotify Wrapped launch spawns widespread interest across social media platforms as Spotify users brace themselves for this music streaming app’s creative compilation of listening patterns. As soon as Spotify releases this feature in early December, people run to share their top artists and songs on their social media stories.
However, despite the light-hearted nature of this annual occasion, Spotify users face pressure about posting their Spotify Wrapped. They must weigh the consequences of being publicly judged for their music taste, resulting in feelings of shame or concern surrounding their listening habits. How will they be perceived for their top artist, most played song, or number one genre? This fear of facing criticism for music preferences causes users to second guess posting their Spotify Wrapped social media.
Considering the judgmental nature of music discourse online, I debated whether to post my Spotify Wrapped this year. I found myself worrying about what people would think about my music taste. Since Spotify Wrapped already took the liberty of labeling the “Audio Aura” of my music as “melancholy” and “yearning,” I wondered what other labels I would be assigned once people gained the opportunity to analyze my listening habits. With my top artists of 2021 being Gregory Alan Isakov, Sufjan Stevens, Cigarettes After Sex, Taylor Swift, and Benjamin Francis Leftwich, I had a feeling that people would judge this ultimate “indie-folk sad-girl” mixtape.
In a way, Spotify Wrapped has become a performance. The process of a Spotify user choosing to share or not share their Spotify Wrapped with their social media followers aims to either support or challenge preconceived notions about their image. In either scenario, Spotify Wrapped remains a facilitator of shaping people’s ideas of your music taste and most importantly, you.
The connotations associated with certain artists, songs, and genres complicate the public display of Spotify Wrapped. Spotify Wrapped perpetuates society’s obsession with assigning stereotypes. Oh, is Taylor Swift your top artist? Well, then you’re probably just another basic boy-obsessed crazy Swiftie. Oh, “Is Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” by The Smiths your top song? Well, then you’re probably just another pretentious elitist Anthony Fantano wannabe. Oh, your top genre is emo? Well, then you're probably just another angsty depressed eyeliner addict stuck in 2005. As a fan of these artists, songs, and genres, I am all too familiar with the toxic echo chamber of music discourse.
Although I do believe that music taste says a lot about a person, it does not define them. Entertaining the idea of such stereotypes deters people from fully embracing their Spotify Wrapped. Underneath this fun annual occasion lies a more sinister risk: Spotify users’ listening habits must endure public scrutiny. Tapping through a series of social media stories all advertising this year’s Spotify Wrapped may seem harmless. However, the subconscious judgment that comes along with this process is what ultimately stopped me from posting my Spotify Wrapped this year.
In hindsight, I realized how I succumbed to such absurdity. My Spotify Wrapped is merely a reflection of my listening habits, nothing more and nothing less. If people want to slap a one-dimensional label on my music taste based on my Spotify Wrapped then so be it. Perhaps some people would see my Spotify Wrapped and think of me as just another sad wistful overly-poetic hopeless romantic (which is partially true). Yet, since there is no “perfect” Spotify Wrapped, who is to say that someone is imperfect, wrong, or unworthy?
Even though I thought I would save myself the potential “embarrassment” from this label, in reality, I just prevented myself from enjoying my music taste. I am aware that songs like “Should Have Known Better” by Sufjan Stevens and “Dandelion Wine” by Gregory Alan Isakov may not appeal to everyone — but nor do they have to. My Spotify Wrapped is my Spotify Wrapped for a reason. My music taste does not have to be palatable for some imaginary audience.
Sure, the critics out there may prefer to indulge in other artists, songs, and genres, but ultimately my Spotify Wrapped truly encapsulates the music that has become the soundtrack for a melancholy year. Regardless of how my Spotify Wrapped turns out next year, I plan on treating the occasion as a mini celebration. A celebration of optimism, self-growth, and adventure for whatever music and memories lie ahead.