Spotify updates Release Radar with new controls and smarter music discovery
Spotify is rolling out a global update to Release Radar, giving listeners more control over their weekly recommendations.
Spotify is giving one of its most popular personalised playlists a major refresh. Release Radar, the weekly playlist that delivers new releases from artists listeners follow alongside personalised recommendations, is receiving new listening controls, smarter recommendations and a fresh new look across mobile and desktop.
The update also forms part of Spotify’s continued investment in music discovery. Alongside Release Radar, the platform has recently introduced new features across playlists, including New Music Friday, Discover Weekly and Fresh Finds, all aimed at making it easier for listeners to find their next favourite artist or song.
Release Radar gets new listening controls
Every Friday, Release Radar brings together the latest releases from artists listeners already follow alongside personalised recommendations based on their listening habits. According to Spotify, the playlist now reaches nearly 9 million listeners every week, making it one of the platform’s biggest destinations for new music discovery.
The biggest change is a new row of controls at the top of the playlist, rolling out globally across mobile and desktop. Rather than listening to the same mix every time, users can now steer their session by selecting from up to five options, including Discover new artists, Editors’ picks, and three personalised genre filters based on their listening history.
Spotify says the update gives listeners “more ways to find their next favorite song,” while improved recommendation systems will deliver tracks that better match each user’s tastes. Release Radar is also receiving refreshed cover and header artwork as part of the update.
Spotify’s discovery playlists continue to evolve
Release Radar is the latest of Spotify’s discovery features to receive new functionality. The platform has also recently introduced editor-led video recommendations to New Music Friday, giving listeners additional context around standout releases selected by Spotify’s editorial team.
Meanwhile, Discover Weekly continues to offer customisable genre controls, while Fresh Finds remains an important launchpad for emerging independent artists. According to Spotify, the editorial playlist has helped spotlight artists including Japanese Breakfast, Ice Spice, Omar Apollo, Doechii and Wet Leg before they went on to achieve wider recognition.
Discovery is becoming even more personal
Spotify’s latest Release Radar update is another sign that music discovery is becoming increasingly personalised. Rather than relying solely on broad playlists, listeners now have more control over the recommendations they see, helping them uncover music that better matches their tastes.
For artists, that means discovery is continuing to evolve. While the fundamentals of releasing great music haven’t changed, personalised recommendation tools like Release Radar are becoming an increasingly important way for listeners to find both the artists they already love and new ones they haven’t heard before.