Spotify is rolling out a new feature that lets users create playlists by typing what they want to hear, instead of picking artists or genres.
The feature is called Prompted Playlist. It allows users to describe a mood, moment, or idea in their own words. Spotify then builds a playlist based on that prompt, the user’s listening history, and what is trending in music right now.
Spotify says the idea is to give listeners more control over how music is discovered, without needing to manually build a playlist from scratch. Users can ask for things like newer songs only, deeper cuts, certain genres included or excluded, or music tied to specific moments or pop culture trends.
The company first started testing Prompted Playlist in December 2025 with Premium users in New Zealand. Spotify says people quickly started experimenting, including asking for winter night throwbacks, lyric-free electronic music for work, or playlists tied to viral trends.
The beta is now expanding to more Premium users in Canada and the U.S.
Once a playlist is created, users can edit their prompt, refresh it daily or weekly, or start over with something new. Each song also includes a short explanation for why it was added to the playlist.
“We hear from listeners all the time that they love playlists, but making their own can feel daunting,” said Sulinna Ong, Global Head of Editorial. “Prompted Playlist offers a more intuitive entry point, letting users begin with moods, moments, or ideas in their own words, and build something that feels personal.”
Spotify may also show example prompts on the Home screen, created by its editors, to help users get started. Now, why can’t Apple Music come up with something like this?
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