What Spotify does, is it takes all of the playlists that user’s have created on Spotify, and uses this as the input data. A machine learning algorithm takes in a bunch of data, performs specific steps, and outputs predictions.Ī machine learning algorithm “ learns” from the input data using statistics, to build up a knowledge base (or a model), and then applies this model to your data of interest. This new buzzword, “machine learning”, is just the use of algorithms to predict or classify something. (Although the whole point of algorithms is to be precise, it sure is an ambiguous definition!) Machine learning workflows can be simplified down to this (Image produced by author). Taking a brief step back, I will start by clearly defining WHAT exactly an algorithm IS.Īn algorithm is simply a sequence of steps or calculations, that is performed to answer a specified problem. This resulted in a much-loved feature of Spotify – it’s “Discover Weekly”.Īnd all of this is thanks to a term that I’m sure many people are familiar with – a machine learning algorithm. So their idea was – why not put all of these playlists into a machine learning algorithm and predict songs for users. When Spotify realised that it’s users were browsing other’s playlists on search of new music, they thought – “why not automate this?”.

With 10’s of millions of songs, it is quite the challenge to accurately suggest music to users! And just like Amazon suggests books, Facebook suggests friends, and Netflix recommends shows, Spotify recommends songs. Spotify is a music streaming service with over 180 million users. I couldn’t help myself – I had to find out. How on earth does an algorithm learn THAT!? In Spotify’s case, I’m okay with this! But between your data and your new favourite artist, is an algorithm, a machine learning algorithm.īut I’ve always wondered, exactly how Spotify could suggest songs which had the same FEEL. Many of us are aware that companies like Spotify, Facebook and Twitter use our data to “enhance” our experience on their site. And Spotify generates a new Discover Weekly each and every Monday.

They are unique to you and your taste in music. I was sitting there being blown away by it’s crazy accuracy, and thinking “ damn, how did it know I would like that song?”.ĭiscover Weekly is a playlist of 30 songs, that you haven’t listened to before. So I was on the train this morning, listening to my “Discover Weekly” playlist on Spotify. How Spotify Already Knows Your Next Favourite Song

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