Spotify Wrapped

By: Josh Riedy '31

This year's Spotify Wrapped came out, and everyone seems to be sharing their results, but what’s all the fuss about?

Spotify Wrapped is a yearly event that Spotify has run since 2016, and it has grown hugely in popularity. Spotify has massively marketed Spotify Wrapped, with it having great success. A friendly competition has grown on the internet about who can be the “best” fan for their favorite artist. People share their stats all over the world, and with family and friends. Spotify Wrapped has had a huge impact on the music space.

But some criticism has been introduced about Spotify Wrapped. Many say that Spotify Wrapped is just a blatant use of data collection for advertising disguised in sheep’s clothes.

One article from Vox written by Kelly Pau stated that Spotify Wrapped and other trends are simply just surveillance capitalism, which is where companies collect your personal data, such as your listening habits, for advertising. This practice can be considered highly unethical from some people, but perfectly acceptable from other’s point of view. 

Spotify Wrapped is loved by some, and hated by others. So what do you think about it, and did you share your results this year?