Spotify's AI Playlist could be the solution for those desperate for Wrapped top 20 artists

If you’re anything like me, the arrival of Spotify Wrapped 2024 feels like the Ballon d’Or of music streaming. It’s that magical moment when we finally get to see if all those late-night jam sessions and workout playlists paid off in crowning our favorite artists of the year. But here’s my gripe: Spotify’s Wrapped only shows your Top 5 artists. Five? Really, Spotify? That’s just scratching the surface.

I’ve always wished for a deeper dive — like a Top 20 or even 30. For me, it’s not just about seeing the big names; it’s about discovering those artists who’ve quietly climbed the ranks. These are often the artists I’ve just started exploring, like when I stumbled upon dancehall icons Masicka and Bugle. A little love for those rising stars in my personal music universe would go a long way.

The other day, I was scrolling through Reddit and landed on a thread in the Music subreddit. My curiosity immediately piqued. Could it be? A solution to my Wrapped woes? According to this and another post:

When you share a song by an artist, if they happened to be in your top artists of the year, you will get an additional screen to swipe through and it’ll say what number they were.

The process, as you can imagine, is tedious: guess which artists might be in your Top 20, share one of their songs, and swipe to see their ranking. A little game of musical detective work, if you will.

But then, the real gem came from a user who suggested using Spotify’s AI Playlist. Intrigued, I kept reading:

You can use the Wrapped AI Playlist and just ask it to make a playlist of your Top 20 artists.

Now we’re talking! Except… how? Someone in the thread asked the same question, and the reply sounded simple enough:

Scroll down to where it says ‘Ask AI Playlist,’ then just type ‘Top 20 artists,’ and it’ll make a playlist. Then check each artist to see their ranking. Once you click ‘Go to Artist,’ it will show you.

Armed with this newfound knowledge, I excitedly opened my Spotify app and…nothing. I scoured every corner of the app, desperately trying to find this elusive AI Playlist feature. Still nothing. Frustrated but not defeated, I reached out to my colleague in India to see if he had access. Spoiler alert: he didn’t.

And then came the plot twist. My colleague, who’s as much a music junkie as I am, discovered that the AI Playlist feature is currently in limited release. For now, it’s only available in beta in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. Mystery solved, but my excitement deflated faster than a popped balloon.

For those of us outside these lucky regions, we’re stuck with the tedious method: guessing, sharing, swiping. It’s not elegant, but hey, it’s something. Meanwhile, AI Playlist users are living the dream, effortlessly generating their Top 20 artist lists.

Here’s hoping Spotify rolls out the AI Playlist globally before Wrapped 2025 drops. Because let’s be honest, a little extra insight into our listening habits is what we all deserve. After all, music is more than just numbers; it’s memories, moments, and the joy of discovery. Until then, I’ll keep playing my guessing game and dreaming of a day when Spotify Wrapped goes from a highlight reel to a deep dive.

And hey, if you’re one of the lucky ones with access to the AI Playlist, let the rest of us live vicariously through you. Create that Top 20 list and share it — we’ll be here, eagerly awaiting our turn to join the fun.