Spotify Blend: Create Playlists with Friends

Spotify Launches Global Rollout of Shared Playlist Feature, Blend

Spotify is now making its collaborative playlist feature, Blend, available to all users globally, accompanied by several enhancements. Initial beta testing of this new shared playlist experience began earlier this summer.

How Blend Works

This feature enables two individuals to merge their preferred songs into a single, unified playlist. It utilizes the same music mixing technology found in other multi-user playlists like Spotify’s Family Mix and Duo Mix.

Importantly, Blend is accessible to all Spotify users, regardless of whether they have a free or premium subscription, allowing anyone to combine their musical tastes.

New Features and Improvements

Since its initial beta release, the feature has undergone further development, according to Spotify.

Users creating a Blend will now receive a “taste match score,” indicating the degree of similarity or difference in their listening habits compared to their friends.

This score is presented as a percentage following the Blend’s creation and is accompanied by information identifying the song that best represents their shared musical ground.

Enhanced Visuals

Blends will also showcase updated cover art, designed to improve playlist visibility and recognition.

Premium User Benefits

Spotify Premium subscribers will gain an additional advantage. They will be able to identify which user’s preferences led to the inclusion of each song on their Blend playlist.

Popular Artists on Blend

During Blend’s testing phase, Olivia Rodrigo emerged as the most-streamed artist on Blend playlists, followed by Doja Cat, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Lil Nas X.

Strategic User Acquisition

This feature is not solely intended for entertainment purposes. It also serves as a strategy to attract new users.

By allowing free users to create or join a Blend, Spotify aims to encourage individuals to try the service, potentially converting them into paying subscribers or drawing them away from competing platforms.

Integration with "Only You"

Blend was unveiled in June alongside “Only You,” a new in-app experience that highlights a user’s favorite music and listening habits. This is similar to Spotify’s annual “Wrapped” retrospective.

Like “Only You,” Blend supports social sharing, enabling users to share “data stories” across their social media channels.

Personalization Technology

Spotify emphasizes that features like Blend demonstrate its leadership in personalization technology.

Despite competitors replicating Spotify’s playlist ideas, the company consistently introduces new innovations, such as “Only You” and specialized playlists for commuters, gym-goers, or specific artists, genres, and decades.

Accessing Blend

Users can access Blend through the “Made for You” hub within the Spotify mobile app.

To begin, select “Create Blend” and then “invite” a friend to participate. Once your friend accepts, Spotify will automatically generate the cover art, track list, and display your taste match score.

You can then share your “data story” to your social networks by clicking “Share this Story.”

The global rollout of Blend commences today, though it may take some time to appear for all users. If you do not see it immediately, please check back at a later time.