Entering Time Spotify Wrapped Section: Are We The Music We Listen To?
One of the iconic scenes of "500 Days of Summer" (Source: IMDB)

JAKARTA - We are entering the time of the Spotify Wrapped section. This means that it's the end of the year, where we can see a lot of people showing their taste in music. Is it true that the wise people say that we are the music we listen to?

So, Spotify Wrapped is a feature that concludes our listening activities on Spotify for the past year. Spotify summarizes that data of our activity and allows us to upload it on social media.

To make Spotify Wrapped, first log in to Spotify or visit spotify.com/wrapped. Then, in the Home section, we will find the command to click on the banner: Spotify Wrapped 2021 "Your Top Songs 2021".

After that, Instastory-like displays that contain a summary of data about the artists we listen to the most, the songs we often listen to, trends in music genres to the aura of our music represented by color will appear. In some sections, the "Share This Story" command will appear, which will allow us to share it on social media or download the data.

Not only music. Spotify also includes several features, such as personalized podcasts. In addition, there is also a 2021: The Movie feature. This feature matches the top row of songs we hear with classic movie scenes that describe the listener's audio journey. Everything is getting more engaging. Tie.

Captivating and engaging personalization

Photo illustration (Source: Unsplash)

Personalization is indeed an important mandate in the Spotify service. In 2019 they achieved an important improvisation on how people could find music on a streaming service.

Spotify was then personalizing a number of human-curated playlists. Previously we were familiar with a number of playlist personalization features that Spotify offers, such as Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or Daily Mixes.

But the personalization features above are separate from the program that Spotify's editorial team has built later. They said some playlists would be more personal and specific to offer listeners.

This focus on personalization was further strengthened after Spotify's internal research on user habits. During a test run of its new system, Spotify found that users were listening to personalized playlists for longer.

The new system also increases the number of artists featured in playlists by up to 30 percent. Meanwhile, for artists it is increased to 35 percent. Spotify data also shows that after listeners found songs in personalized playlists, the number of listeners looking for their own music to listen to over and over rose by 80 percent.

In addition, the data also shows that the average number of listeners who save songs rose by 66 percent. This proves how captivating and binding Spotify's personalization system is.

Spotify has also tapped into the emotional aspect of its listeners, something it believes is very important in engaging listeners. Playlists like Beast Mode, Chill Hits, Dance Party or Metal Ballads are features that support that endeavor.

The playlists focus on a genre, mood or activity. "Only Spotify owners and playlists operated are considered for this initiative. We did not include any third-party playlists. In addition, we have focused primarily on the mood and moment of the playlist," a Spotify spokesperson said, quoted by Tech Crunch.

In February, Spotify further strengthened their personalization system by developing a feature that can suggest music based on the user's speech, emotions, and even accents. Malansir Sputnik, this was done to dig deeper into the user's personality.

This is done by Spotify with a method that is able to process audio signals that include speech content and background noise. The new technology can reportedly detect emotional state, gender, age and accent, which is then classified into categories, including happy, angry, sad and neutral. Everything the user feels.

"This metadata can include background noise surrounding the user, such as sounds from vehicles on the road, other people talking, birds chirping, printer printing, and so on," a Spotify spokesperson told Pitchfork.

The collected data will then be processed using Parrot's emotional framework, which is a structured list of emotions that includes different levels and a hidden Markov model. It's not yet known when this will be implemented, but it's clear "Spotify has applied for patents for hundreds of inventions and we regularly apply for new ones.

"Some of these patents become part of future products, while others do not," said the spokesman.

We are the music we listen to?

One of the iconic scenes from the movie "500 Days of Summer" (Source: IMDB)

We know music can affect our moods and thoughts. But what is also being questioned is whether music really reflects a person's characteristics?

A large-scale study conducted by researchers from Heriot-Watt University revealed the relationship between the two variables above. The study involved 36,000 participants from around the world.

They were asked to rate more than 104 different music genres. The researchers also asked participants to define themselves through music and use it as a means to connect with others.

This research shows that there is a connection that people often make between one's identity as an individual and one's taste in music. One of the researchers involved, Adrian North, told Very Well Mind that the research also uncovers the reasons why people sometimes feel defensive about their taste in music.

"It's probably related to how much it reflects their attitude and personality," says Adrian North.

This study specifically classifies several musical genres and relates them to a person's personality and attitude. The explanation is below:

1. Pop music

Listeners of pop music, especially hits that have a tendency to be extroverted, honest, and conventional. This is different from those who are fans of old pop music, who in this study are described as less creative and often restless.

2. Rock and metal music

There is a stigma that associates rock and metal fans with aggressiveness. But the researchers actually found the opposite.

This research shows that those who like this hard genre tend to have a soft attitude. They are also identified as creative even though they are also close to a closed attitude and have low self-esteem.

3. Rap and hip hop Musik

The stigma attached to fans of rock/metal music is similar to the stereotypes attached to lovers of the rap and hip hop genres. They are suspected of being rude.

But again the researchers showed no relevant relationship in that assumption. They are identified as people who tend to have high self-esteem and are usually outgoing.

4. Jazz, blues, and soul music

Those who like jazz, blues, and soul music have in common as individuals who tend to be extroverted. They also have high self-esteem, are creative, intelligent, and easy-going.

5. Classical music

Classical music fans are identified as individuals who tend to be introverted. Even so they also have an awareness of a sense of comfort in themselves and the world around them.

These people have the ability to accept. In addition, they are also identified as people with high self-esteem.

6. Dance Music

The study also classified dance music fans with certain attitudes and personalities. According to this study they are people who tend to be open to new experiences.

Dance fans are the opposite of blues and jazz fans. Dance music fans tend to be faster and less gentle.

*Read other information about MUSIC or read other interesting writings from Yudhistira Mahabharata.

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