Spotify Debuts AI-Driven ‘Prompted Playlist’ Feature in the US & Canada
On January 22, 2026, music streaming behemoth Spotify unveiled its ground-breaking ‘Prompted Playlist’ feature to premium subscribers in the United States and Canada. This marks a significant expansion of the company’s AI-powered music discovery tools.
The novel feature empowers users to craft personalized playlists by articulating exactly what they wish to listen to. Users can use natural language prompts reflecting specific vibes, feelings, memories, or even scenarios. This sets the Prompted Playlists apart from earlier AI playlist tools, as it can comprehend complex, conversational requests. It analyzes users’ entire listening history and real-time music trends to generate highly customized playlists.
J.J. Italiano, Spotify’s Head of Global Music Curation and Discovery, elucidated that the feature democratizes playlist creation: “You don’t need the right words. You just need your words. If you can describe a feeling, you can make a playlist.”
The feature underwent initial testing in New Zealand in December 2025 before its wider North American launch this week. Premium users have the option to set their playlists to refresh daily or weekly and share them with friends. Friends will receive personalized versions tailored to their own taste. Spotify presents this as enabling users to actively control the algorithm rather than merely receiving recommendations.
The launch coincides with Spotify’s announcement of a price hike for its premium subscription plan. The new price is $12.99 per month in the US, a rise from $11.99, effective from February 2026.
Source: CNBC