Entertainment | December 11th, 2023

Which music platform has the better year-end summary?

By: Raina Smith

Music streaming platforms have become an integral part of our lives. Leading the pack are Spotify and Apple Music, standing out as two of the most widely used music streaming services.

With the year drawing to a close, both platforms have released their personalized end-of-year recaps, showcasing their users’ most-played songs and favorite artists.

While both Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay serve as year-end summaries, they bring distinct styles and presentation methods, providing users with two different experiences. The debate over which is better has sparked discussions among music lovers worldwide.

Since 2016, Spotify Wrapped has guided its audience through a reflective exploration of its top songs of the year, inspired by the format introduced in 2015’s “Year in Music.”

While the earlier versions were fairly basic, subsequent updates over the years have seen a steady integration of new and enhanced features, providing a more interactive journey for listeners.

Sharice Brown, a pharmacy student at FAMU, says that she has been using Spotify since middle school.

“I feel like I’ve seen the whole app evolve before my eyes,” Brown said. “They have so many different colors, background music of the songs you listened to in the year, and they also added in videos from the artists.”

This year, Spotify introduced personalized character profiles reflecting users’ music preferences as well as the Sound Town feature, which connects users to cities around the world based on their listening data and shared artist compatibility.

Spotify Wrapped excels in its ability to captivate and be easily shared. The vibrant graphics and playful statistics transform it into an enjoyable experience that goes beyond mere data.

On the other side of the debate stands Apple Music Replay. Less flashy than its counterpart on Spotify, Apple Music Replay offers users a playlist showcasing their top songs of the year, along with lists including their most frequently played songs, artists, and albums.

The playlist is constantly updating in real-time throughout the year, giving users the opportunity to follow their evolving musical tastes without having to wait until December.

Users can also track the total listening time and average play count across their top results. This feature is particularly exciting for many users because it lets them see precisely how many minutes they’ve spent playing their favorite artists.

Cameron Gordon, a physical therapy student at TCC, says that Future was his top artist of 2023, and he finds this result pretty accurate.

“I’ve spent 3,140 minutes listening to Future,” Gordon said.

Apart from enjoying your Replay playlist, Apple Music Replay remains primarily an online experience rather than within the app. Critics argue that this fact, paired with the lack of visual flare, makes Apple Music Replay less shareable and, perhaps, less engaging.

However, a counter perspective suggests that Spotify Wrapped’s focus on aesthetics might overshadow the depth of insights it provides. Despite its visual appeal, some users express a desire for a more detailed breakdown of their listening habits.

Tamyra Joseph, a nursing student at TCC, says that although she uses both platforms, she favors Apple Music and its year-end summary.

“I think Apple Music is better because of the exclusive content,” Joseph said. “It’s always ad-free, and in my opinion the quality is better. I also like the way it looks compared to Spotify.”

Ultimately, the better option depends on what users value most in their annual music recap.

Whether you enjoy the energetic style of Spotify or the simplicity of Apple Music, both platforms offer a pleasant look back that celebrates the timelessness of music.