Do I seek comfort in listening to Spotify? Does it heal something in me? These are questions I am exploring as I reflect on 2024.
Who were this year’s top artists in Spotify Wrapped?
2024’s Spotify Wrapped has new AI features and tallies up your listening minutes.
I spent 32,616 minutes listening to Spotify this year, and honestly, it saved my life.
The much-anticipated 2024 Spotify Wrapped is more than just a carefully curated list of my favorite artists and songs − it’s a reflection of the soundtrack that carried me through the highs and lows of the past year.
The songs I played on repeat, “Too Sweet” by Hozier and “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, weren’t just background noise. They were tied to the memories I made and the emotions I’ve felt this year.
Those songs helped me process difficult moments like the loss of a dear friend and my struggles with seasonal depression.
My music on Spotify tracked with my mood
Looking at my Wrapped list feels a bit like flipping through a mood tracker. Music has always influenced how I feel, and my playlists reflect that connection.
Seeing these patterns makes me think about how not only music but also audiobooks and podcasts have supported me this year. Some days I depended on Spotify music to keep me going when I had no motivation to continue.
On Feb. 19, I listened to Spotify for 409 minutes. That’s more than a quarter of an entire day. I replay that day often in my memory. I had a therapy session that changed the way I saw the world. I didn’t know how to process the new information I received during that session, so I turned to Spotify podcasts to distract me from the uncomfortable feelings I had.
Even the podcasts I binged in 2024 reveal something about me. My top podcast? “The Happiness Lab”with Dr. Laurie Santos.
That podcast helped me learn to find happiness in everyday life. I’m so busy chasing the extraordinary that I often miss the beauty of being present and finding joy in the little things.
I normally work multiple jobs, trying to make ends meet, and when the day is over, I’m exhausted. I just want to eat junk food and wind down. Whether it’s listening to a news commentary, self-help guru or a comedy podcast, what I valued in my downtime was a reflection of me in those moments − tired, sad and unfulfilled.
The audiobooks I listened to mostly focused on personal development. My favorite was “The Mountain is You” by Brianna Wiest.
Do I listen to Spotify to find comfort?
Seeing my listening habits laid out has inspired me to think about how I use Spotify in my life.
Is it my artificially intelligent companion who knows what I need to hear when I need to hear it?
Do I seek comfort in listening to Spotify?
Does it heal something in me?
These are questions I am exploring as I reflect on 2024.
Next year, I want to intentionally curate playlists that bring more calm and positivity into my routine. Iwant to increase my audiobook listening time and listen more to professional development books.
I also want to increase my support of independent music artists, as most of my listening in 2024 was of mainstream artists.
My Spotify Wrapped isn’t just a reflection of the past − it’s also a celebration of everything that made this year memorable. From heartbreaks to hurricanes and road trips, every moment of my life had a theme song or life lesson, and sharing it on social media helped me connect with others, making those moments even more special.
You never know who might love the same artists or discover something new through you. If you haven’t checked out your 2024 Spotify Wrapped list, do it. I bet you’ll discover something you never knew about yourself − maybe something so profound, it will change your life.
Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at USA TODAY Opinion.
