Spotify Unwrapped

By Amara Ego

We Get It, Your Music Taste Isn’t Mainstream

Ah, Spotify Wrapped season. The time of year when we all collectively turn into music critics, parading our listening habits like they're indie festival lineups. It's a badge of honor for some, proof that your music taste is, dare we say it, superior. If your top five artists are obscure enough to make your friends squint and ask, “Wait, who?”— well, congratulations, you’ve won Spotify Wrapped.

But let’s be honest: beneath the fun graphics and that dopamine hit of validation, isn’t there just a bit of pressure here? After all, when did the pursuit of musical individuality become a competitive sport?

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In an era where algorithmic recommendations are our primary music scouts, Wrapped has evolved into something far more than a year-end recap. It's become a status symbol, a form of self-expression that tells the world, "Look at me, I don't just follow the crowd." Your playlists are no longer just about what you like — they’re a carefully curated narrative that tells your friends (and maybe potential matches on Tinder) that you’re just a little bit different.

But herein lies the rub. For many, the fear of having a “basic” Wrapped — stacked with Top 40 artists and songs played at every wedding since 2015 — is real. We’ve entered a world where mainstream = yawn and niche = wow, what an intriguing person you must be.

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This whole trend says something bigger about us, doesn’t it? In a world where everything is increasingly tailored and personalized — your social media feed, your coffee order, your YouTube recommendations — it’s no wonder that even our music taste has become a curated extension of our personal brand. Spotify Wrapped is the mirror reflecting how we want the world to see us: cool, quirky, effortlessly unique, and totally not like those other listeners who have "Bed Chem" by Sabrina Carpenter on loop (even though we secretly do, too). Instead, we have “Astronaut Kids” by Hotel Fiction.



But here’s the thing. As we scramble to shape our Wrapped summary into something that screams “I’m different!”... we may actually be doing ourselves a disservice. Isn’t there a certain joy in loving a mainstream banger just because it slaps? Do we really need to hide our love for Taylor Swift under the rug of a random French alt-pop band just for the aesthetic?

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Let’s not sugarcoat it — chasing musical individuality can come with its own psychological toll. The pressure to maintain a unique Wrapped can feel oddly suffocating as if our musical preferences have turned into an identity crisis. What if we listen to a catchy pop song too many times? Will it tarnish our carefully curated reputation? Is it still “me” if it’s them?

And then there’s the whole judgment thing. As much as we pretend not to care what other people think of our playlists, the little voice in the back of our heads asks: “What will they think of me if my Wrapped isn’t as niche as theirs?” It’s like musical FOMO, but instead of missing out on concerts, we’re worried about missing out on coolness points. All because of a few extra plays of “The Great War.”

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Look, we’re not saying that Spotify Wrapped is some dark reflection of society’s worst traits (okay, maybe a little bit), but it’s worth thinking about how much significance we place on it. Music is meant to be enjoyed, not stress-tested for niche-ness. Whether you’re vibing to obscure techno or rediscovering your love for ABBA, your Wrapped should reflect your genuine tastes — whether or not they score you indie cred.

So as this year’s Wrapped approaches, maybe let go of the pressure. Blast your guilty pleasures without, well, the guilt. After all, the real flex is loving what you love, without worrying about how it looks on an algorithmic year-end summary.

Because at the end of the day, if your Spotify Wrapped looks like a tunnels rave lineup, that’s awesome. And if it’s packed with chart-toppers… well, that’s pretty cool too.

But hey, if your top artist this year is something like “Misty Morning Whalesong Sounds” — then we’re really impressed. ■