Here’s everything wrong with Spotify Wrapped 2024.
Spotify Wrapped has always been a fun way to close out the year, even for someone like me who barely uses the platform anymore. I’ll admit, I was curious to see what it had to offer this time around.
But Wrapped 2024 completely missed the mark. Weird genre labels, missing features, and lifeless AI turned what was once a vibrant celebration into a confusing, soulless mess. Even as a casual listener, it’s hard not to feel disappointed in what used to be the year’s glittering finale.
The Erosion of User Experience
Wrapped 2024 wasn’t so much about what it delivered as what it left out. Features like top genres, albums, and podcasts—the staples that made Wrapped feel complete—were gone. Even extras like the genre sandwich and Sound Towns, which added personality and fun, didn’t make the cut.
The new “Music Evolution” feature attempted to fill the gap by grouping listening habits into micro-genres, but it felt more random than insightful. The lack of meaningful analysis left me wondering whether Spotify understood what made these features enjoyable in the first place.
The stats didn’t fare much better. Songs I’d barely played appeared prominently, while favorites I listened to were left out. It felt like Wrapped wasn’t paying attention. Judging by user reactions online, I wasn’t the only one who thought this year’s version failed to capture the magic of reliving a musical year.
Other users noticed similar issues, with Wrapped seemingly ignoring recent listening habits in favor of tracks from earlier in the year. It seemed that the magic of reliving your musical year was gone—replaced with something that felt inaccurate and, frankly, disconnected.
Even the presentation was off. In the past, Wrapped was visually dynamic and exciting. This year, delayed hype turned into disappointment, with dull slides and uninspired designs that felt rushed. Wrapped didn’t just stumble—it felt like Spotify forgot what made it special.
When Creativity Meets Code
Spotify’s reliance on AI was the most obvious change in Wrapped 2024—and the results showed why it’s not a perfect substitute for creativity.
Take the new “AI Podcast”, for example. The idea of a narrated recap sounded promising, but the execution was lifeless. It was robotic, clinical, and felt more like a lecture than a celebration of a year of music listening.
Then there were the genre labels. While Wrapped has always embraced quirky terms, this year’s AI-generated labels pushed it too far, creating bizarre names that offered no insight into listening habits. It left me and many others wondering whether Spotify’s algorithms understood us at all.
At its core, Wrapped 2024 revealed the limits of relying on algorithms to deliver something meaningful. AI may streamline processes, but it lacks the creativity and emotional connection users crave.
Layoffs and the Rise of Rivals
It’s hard not to connect the dots between Spotify’s massive layoffs last year and Wrapped’s stripped-down feel. Rumors suggest the team behind Wrapped was hit hard, leaving AI to fill the gaps. Whether that’s true or not, the end product feels rushed and impersonal—like a shadow of what Wrapped used to be.
Meanwhile, Apple Music is making moves. Their Replay feature doesn’t have Wrapped’s flash, but it delivers reliable stats with clean breakdowns of top genres, artists, and songs by month.
Add in Apple’s superior sound quality, and it’s no wonder frustrated Spotify users are starting to take notice. Replay may not have Wrapped’s viral appeal, but its consistency is winning over those who feel let down.
Even YouTube Music Recap, which got released much earlier this year has proven to be a lot better than Spotify Wrapped 2024 as it gave more fun features that focuses on personalization.
TL;DR: My Wrapped 2024 Wish List
Even though I’m not a frequent user anymore, my social feeds are still flooded every December with friends sharing their stats and quirky listening habits. Wrapped has this unique ability to turn streaming data into something worth celebrating, which makes it all the more disappointing when it misses the mark.
Here’s what I wish Spotify had done better:
- Bring Back the Basics: Top genres, albums, and podcasts were staples that made Wrapped feel complete.
- Ditch the AI Gimmicks: No one asked for a robotic podcast or genres that sound like Mad Libs. Let’s leave the algorithms where they belong—behind the scenes.
- Fix the Stats: Telling people their most-played song is one they barely remember? That’s a trust fall gone wrong.
- Restore the Fun: Features like zodiac playlists and Sound Towns added personality—bring them back!
- Polish the Final Output: Wrapped used to feel like a fireworks finale, versus this year’s which felt more like a PowerPoint.
Spotify has the tools and the audience to make Wrapped a cultural phenomenon again. The question is whether they’re willing to put in the effort to hit the right notes. Here’s hoping 2025 brings the sparkle back!