Good news for anyone who loves discovering new tunes on Spotify! The popular Discover Weekly playlist, a Monday morning ritual for many, is getting a significant upgrade. After ten years of algorithm-led suggestions, Spotify is finally giving Premium subscribers more control over the music they discover.
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This update introduces new genre filters right at the top of your Discover Weekly playlist. The big takeaway? You can now actively guide the algorithm towards the sounds you’re actually in the mood for, making your weekly music discovery much more personalized and less random.
What’s New in Discover Weekly?
For years, Discover Weekly has been a bit of a mystery box, albeit a very good one. It learns your listening habits and serves up tracks it thinks you’ll like. Now, Spotify Premium users will see small filter buttons appear above the playlist.
These buttons represent different genres the algorithm has identified based on your listening history. For instance, if you’ve been listening to a mix of indie pop and classic rock, you might see filters for “Indie Pop” and “Classic Rock,” plus potentially related genres. Tapping on one of these filters will refine the playlist to show you new tracks primarily within that chosen style.
Spotify Discover Weekly with new genre filter controls
This is a big deal because it shifts Discover Weekly from a purely passive experience to one where you have a say. Want to dive deep into new electronic music this week? Select that filter. Suddenly feeling nostalgic for 90s R&B? If Spotify thinks you might like new takes on that sound, you could potentially filter for it.
Why This Matters for Your Listening
Think about it: sometimes your listening habits are all over the place. Maybe you listen to focus music during the day and heavy metal at night. The old Discover Weekly tried to blend all that, sometimes leading to unexpected (and not always welcome) genre clashes. With the new filters, you can segment your discovery based on your current mood or interest.
This update is a clear sign that Spotify is listening to users who want more transparency and control over the powerful algorithms shaping their experience. Discover Weekly has been incredibly successful, driving over 100 billion streams and helping emerging artists find audiences (Spotify says 77% of DW listens are to new artists). Adding filters aims to make that discovery process even more effective and enjoyable for the listener.
Finding the New Controls
To access the updated Discover Weekly, make sure you’re a Spotify Premium subscriber and have the latest version of the Spotify app installed on your device.
Head to the “Made for You” hub within the Spotify app. Your Discover Weekly playlist lives here. Once you open it, you should see the new genre filter buttons near the top of the playlist interface. Just tap a filter to refine your list for the week.
This move follows other recent updates from Spotify designed to give users more input. They’ve revamped the queue system to make upcoming recommended songs clearer and allow users to manage what plays next. There’s also a “snooze” feature that lets you temporarily hide songs you’re tired of without removing them from your library or recommendations permanently. These features together show a trend towards a more interactive and user-guided Spotify experience.
The Future of Discovery
Giving users direct controls like genre filters is a smart evolution for Discover Weekly. It empowers you to curate your discovery journey weekly, ensuring the new music you find is more aligned with what you actually want to hear at that moment. It’s a step towards making algorithmic recommendations feel less like a black box and more like a helpful assistant you can direct.
If you’re a Spotify Premium user, dive into your Discover Weekly this Monday and experiment with the new filters. See how shaping your recommendations changes the new music waiting for you!
