Spotify has added a new feature that lets listeners attach personal notes to songs in their playlists, giving users a way to add context or memories to individual tracks.
The feature, called User Notes, was reported by Engadget. It allows listeners to write captions that might describe where they first heard a song, who introduced them to the artist, or any other personal connection to a track. Notes appear to anyone who can view the playlist, not just the person who created it.
The feature is available to both free and paid Spotify users, but only to those who are at least 16 years old, and only in select markets. Users can access the option through the three-dot menu next to a track listing, under the Add Note option.
Spotify has built its reputation largely on algorithmic personalization, using listening data to generate recommended playlists and radio stations. User Notes moves in a different direction, giving listeners a manual, personal way to annotate their own collections. The feature echoes the liner notes that once accompanied physical albums and the handwritten labels that went with mixtapes and mix CDs, translated into a streaming context.
The social dimension of the feature is worth noting. Because notes are visible to anyone who can see a playlist, users who share playlists with others will be sharing their notes as well. Spotify has not announced whether it plans to expand the feature to additional markets.
