Spotify wrapped 2024: What happened?

Spotify Wrapped has always been the highlight for music lovers…a mix of data, nostalgia, and storytelling that makes us feel understood (and maybe a bit judged 😅). But this year? Wrapped 2024 left a lot of people scratching their heads.

But before that, how has your week been? I’ve been dropping something or the other every week so here’s my recap:

• I dropped new episodes on The Marketing Woman Podcast and The Pivot to Balance Podcast (check them out now!!)

• Started a new series called “How I got my sh*t together” on Instagram (check it out here)

• I have been sharing bts on Instagram regularly!

  Links to all this are below!! :)

Love all the support and encouragement, thank you! :)

Let’s get into this one now!

Here’s what felt off:

1️⃣ Where Are the Classics?
No deep dives into top genres or favorite podcasts? These personal touches were always a fan-favorite, and their absence made Wrapped feel incomplete. (Honestly, I got my top 5 podcasts, but apparently, you must’ve listened to some hours or minutes to get that, not sure about this one)

2️⃣ Genre Chaos
“Pumpkin spice rollerskating pop”? “Mallgoth rock out metalcore”? Fun in theory, but they ended up feeling random and disconnected. Instead of quirky, it came across as confusing. This looks very ChatGPT to me.

3️⃣ Rushed Vibes
People feel like this year’s Wrapped lacked the trivia and depth we’ve loved in the past. It felt more like a checklist than a celebration of our music.

What Happened?
Some think Spotify’s recent layoffs or increased reliance on AI may have played a part, though nothing’s confirmed. Whatever the cause, it’s clear: fans noticed, and some are already looking at alternatives like Apple Music Replay.

What Can We Learn From This?

• Nostalgia Builds Loyalty: People love familiarity. Take away too many classic features, and you risk losing trust.

• Clarity Over Quirkiness: Fun labels work only when they make sense. Simplicity wins hearts (and minds).

• AI Alone Isn’t Enough: Data tells the story, but creativity and empathy make it meaningful.

At its core, personalization is about making people feel seen. Miss that, and even the most hyped campaigns can fall flat.

On that note, here are some of my favvvv stats for The Marketing Woman Podcast and The Pivot to Balance Podcast

So, how did you feel about this year’s Wrapped? A hit or a miss? Let’s chat, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Until next time,

Anusha 🎶

THIS WEEK ON The Marketing Woman Podcast:

E52:Be Data-Driven Without Losing Creativity (🎂Have Your Cake and Eat It Too)

In this episode, basically I’ll talk about how to strike a balance between two seemingly opposing forces: the analytical power of data and the imaginative freedom of creativity

We’ll talk about things like…

1. Data + Creativity = Magic

2. Storytelling through Data

3. Specific Questions Lead to Better Insights

4. Data as Inspiration, Not a Limitation, and more

Share your thoughts by replying to this email or comment and get the conversation started

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