Spotify User Notes let listeners add captions to playlist songs

Spotify User Notes are rolling out as a new way for listeners to attach personal captions to individual songs in playlists, the company announced Thursday. For everyday users, it makes playlists feel less like static song lists and more like a record of why a track mattered, while investors watching Spotify get another sign of the company pushing personalization to keep listeners engaged.

The feature lets people add short notes to tracks they like, according to Spotify. A user could write why a song made it into a playlist, when they first found it, or what memory they connect with it, such as hearing it on a trip or during a date.

Spotify said in an email to TechCrunch that the notes are meant to add context around the music people care about. The company framed the tool as a way to turn playlists into more personal spaces for discovery, rather than collections built only around recommendations or mood.

How do Spotify User Notes work?

Spotify says users can add a note from a playlist they created, or from a playlist that includes songs they have added. They tap the three-dot menu beside a track, choose “Add note,” type the text, and save it.

Once saved, the note appears to people who can view that playlist, according to Spotify. The note also shows the writer’s name, which links back to that user’s Spotify profile.

The public visibility is the key mechanic to understand. A note is attached to a song inside a playlist context, so it can become part of how other listeners experience that playlist if they have access to it.

Who can use the new feature?

Spotify said User Notes is available to users ages 16 and older in select markets. The company is making it available across both free and premium plans, so the feature is not limited to paying subscribers in the markets where it launches.

Spotify did not name every market in the announcement reported by TechCrunch. It also did not say whether the feature will expand more broadly or when that might happen.

The update fits into a broader push by streaming apps to make music discovery feel more personal. Spotify already leans heavily on playlists and recommendations, and User Notes adds a more human layer by letting listeners explain the meaning behind a song choice in their own words.

Spotify also announced a separate Running Mode on Thursday, according to TechCrunch. That feature selects music for different parts of a run, using a listener’s preferences and pace, and is available to premium users in select countries.

For Spotify, User Notes is a small product change with a clear engagement angle: give people more reasons to build, revisit, and share playlists. For listeners, the feature adds a lightweight journal inside the app, tied directly to the songs they already save and share.

This story draws on original reporting from TechCrunch.