Spotify Wrapped 2024: A Yearly Tradition With One Flaw

Spotify Wrapped has become a cherished end-of-year tradition, offering music lovers a personalized reflection of their listening habits. From discovering which songs they had on repeat to celebrating favorite artists and guilty pleasure tracks, Wrapped provides a nostalgic snapshot of the year in music. Released with much fanfare each November, the feature dominates social media as users share their musical highlights with friends.

Yet, while Wrapped sparks joy for many, its timing raises a persistent issue: Spotify Wrapped doesn’t truly reflect an entire year of listening.

The Cut-Off Dilemma

Wrapped’s data collection traditionally spans from January 1 to October 31, leaving out the last two months of the year. This truncated approach means any music discovered in November and December is excluded from the annual summary. For users who find new obsessions in these final months, this exclusion is disappointing.

Take the case of Little Simz’s 2022 album NO THANK YOU, released on December 12. Despite its critical acclaim and heavy rotation among fans, it was absent from that year’s Wrapped and overshadowed in the 2023 summary by 10 months of other listening data. This leaves a glaring gap in Wrapped’s claim to represent a user’s year in music.

The rationale behind this cut-off is often attributed to the logistics of processing billions of data points in time for Wrapped’s early December release. Some argue the timing avoids an overrepresentation of Christmas music, which often dominates playlists in December. But for many, holiday songs are as much a part of their yearly soundtrack as summer hits or springtime discoveries. Excluding these songs creates an incomplete picture of a listener’s habits.

Why Timing Matters

Music consumption is dynamic, and the final months of the year can be pivotal for many listeners. From new releases to holiday classics, these moments deserve recognition. Furthermore, shifting Wrapped to include all 12 months would provide a more authentic representation of a user’s listening year.

If logistical challenges necessitate a delayed release, most users would likely welcome a January Spotify Wrapped. The trade-off would be worth it for a complete, unabridged recap of the year. After all, what’s a few extra weeks of anticipation compared to an accurate reflection of one’s musical journey?

Justice for Year-End Songs

A December 31 cut-off could finally give late-year releases and seasonal favorites their due. So, let’s give Wham!, Mariah Carey, and all those underappreciated year-end albums the recognition they deserve. Until then, Spotify Wrapped remains a beloved tradition—but one with room for improvement.