Spotify is rolling out a series of updates to its discovery playlists, including new controls for Release Radar and a visual redesign, as the company continues to refine how listeners find new music each week.
Release Radar Gets New Controls and Look
Release Radar, which reaches nearly 9 million listeners every Friday, now offers session controls that let users tailor the playlist to a specific genre, focus exclusively on new-to-you artists, or select other personalized options. Up to five choices are available, including ‘Discover new artists’ and ‘Editors’ picks’.
The controls are rolling out on mobile and desktop and appear at the top of the playlist. Spotify has also updated the playlist’s cover and header artwork, and says it has improved the underlying recommendation system to surface more relevant tracks.
New Music Friday Adds Video Recommendations
New Music Friday, a weekly playlist highlighting recent releases, now includes editor-led video recommendations. The short videos feature editorial insights on standout tracks, rising artists, and the stories behind notable songs.
Fresh Finds: A Decade of Independent Discovery
Fresh Finds, a set of playlists curated to spotlight emerging independent artists, has been operating for over a decade. Several artists later named Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, including Japanese Breakfast, Ice Spice, Omar Apollo, Doechii, and Wet Leg, were featured on Fresh Finds before receiving their nominations.
The program includes a flagship playlist and more than a dozen genre-specific lists spanning country, rock, jazz, hip-hop, and other styles. A team of over 30 editors curates the selections each week.
Discover Weekly Passes 100 Billion Streams
Spotify’s first personalized playlist, Discover Weekly, has surpassed 100 billion total streams since its launch over a decade ago. Last year, the company added customization options that allow listeners to select up to five genres from their streaming history to shape the playlist’s recommendations.
