The 3 Cool Takeaways Your Startup Can Learn from Spotify Wrapped

Photo: Spotify

Every now and then, either an inventor, a founder, or a brand comes along with an idea that is so cool, so clever, and apparently valuable that it forces you to ask yourself, Now why didn’t I think of that? Yep, it has happened to all of us. And then there are those ideas that almost make you mad that you did not think of them yourself. 

Not that we may have necessarily had the resources to bring those great ideas to fruition ourselves, but more so of the fact that the idea was so dope—we feel as though it should have crossed our mind at least once. 

One of those ideas that made me absolutely question my creative juices for not having thought of it myself, has been Spotify Wrapped. Sure, on the surface, Spotify Wrapped could come off just a recap feature on a digital music service. But when you peel back the layers, Wrapped is an incredibly ingenious idea that every startup could learn from. 

1. Show your customers you see and hear them 

If you’re unfamiliar with Spotify Wrapped, essentially, it is an annual, personalized year-in review for Spotify subscribers which reveals the artists, songs, podcasts, and genres individual users streamed most throughout the year. 

Since officially being rebranded as Spotify Wrapped in 2016, hundreds of millions of users have shared their Wrapped results with others on social media. 

Perhaps the most brilliant aspect of Wrapped is that the data Spotify gathers to present each individuals’ year-end review—now reveals tidbits about themselves that even their closest friends and family may not have known.

For example, by deciphering which songs and genres users listen to most, Wrapped can now reveal intimate details about the user’s personality totally based on their listening preferences throughout the year. This makes their subscribers feel both seen and heard. 

And when people feel seen and heard by brands—they often go to reward them with their undying devotion. Think of ways in which your brand could make its customers feel both seen and heard. And they’ll go on to reward you handsomely for it.

2. Track everything!

What most allows Spotify the ability to create a year-end review like Wrapped for each individual user, is because they track every action each user takes on their platform. This allows Spotify the opportunity to analyze a users’ data and customize each users’ experience on the app based on their personal interests.

Tracking the interests of your users or customers based on their personal interactions with your website or app could provide your startup invaluable information that could help enhance their experience with your brand and its platforms. 

3. Promote sharing 

Although it may be hard to believe at times, most people absolutely do love the acting of sharing. Not saying that most people may necessarily love sharing precious resources like their time or money; but most people in the world do love to voluntarily share something totally unsolicited. And that thing is their opinion. 

What’s more, people also love sharing things that they discovered which they deem cool and interesting with their peer group. Especially if those things could possibly help them accumulate social currency amongst their peers. 

Which would explain just how Spotify Wrapped has become so incredibly popular around the world. Just how popular? I’m glad you asked! Over 200 million users engaged with Spotify Wrapped 2025 in the first 24 hours after it launched. It was also shared over 500 million times within the first day. 

Making the Wrapped 2025 launch the biggest of all time. 

Wrapped became the social media phenomenon it is today not only because it’s a cool feature that allows users to reveal stories about their listening interests that they could share with their friends, family, and other social media followers—Wrapped became an epic online event because Spotify encourages users to share their Wrapped on social media.

Regardless of what type of product or service that your startup provides to customers, there will always be ways in which you could present features or content that you could encourage your supporters to share with others online. 

Final thoughts 

I believe that every great brand leaves behind a blueprint for others to follow. And if you study those blueprints closely, what you’ll often discover is that there are many effective marketing tactics that could possibly be applied to your brand’s marketing strategy. 

If you’d like help incorporating any of these lessons into your startup’s marketing strategy, look no further. We've got you covered! Schedule a complimentary client consultation with us today and take the first step to increase your brand’s awareness, sales, and overall aura.