The Real Science Behind Your Spotify Wrapped
Why do we love certain songs while we can’t stand others? Why do some hate Taylor Swift and others love her? Our musical tastes are shaped by a complex mix of biology, psychology, culture, memories, and identity. This means there’s no universal formula for “good” music, and genre stereotypes fail to capture the range of preferences, even within a single style. So here’s why your Spotify Wrapped or Apple Music replay was the way it was.
So, what shapes our music taste? The first significant factor is personality. People with high openness tend to enjoy complex or “sophisticated” music, such as classical, jazz, or experimental music. People high in extraversion often prefer upbeat, rhythmic, “contemporary” styles. Now you can see how music tastes and personality align. But personality is only part of taste; it doesn't determine everything.
The next factor is exposure and familiarity. The more we hear something, the more we tend to like it; this phenomenon is known as the mere exposure effect. This is a psychological phenomenon in which people come to prefer things simply because they're familiar with them through repeated exposure, which reduces uncertainty and increases perceived safety. Early exposure, such as in childhood and adolescence, strongly shapes long-term taste preferences, explaining why music from our youth or family often remains meaningful.
Culture and environment also play a part, as concepts of what is "normal" or "pleasant" vary across societies. Peer groups, social media, and communities influence our preferences, what we like and don’t like. Memories and emotions are important too. Music tied to life experiences often becomes a favorite, and songs can regulate mood by energizing listeners, providing comfort, or serving as an outlet, depending on the genre, BPM, rhythm, and other aspects of a song. Many people form their strongest musical attachments during adolescence, a period often associated with the reminiscence bump: a phenomenon in which adults, especially older adults, recall more memories from adolescence than from other periods in early adulthood, creating a peak on a memory graph.
Biology and genetics also play a role: traits such as musical aptitude, sensitivity to rhythm and pitch, and enjoyment of music are partly heritable, with heritability estimates of approximately 40%. Genetics doesn't determine specific genre preferences, but can shape what sounds and feels rewarding. Genes and environment also interact: someone genetically predisposed to music may seek out music-rich environments, thereby increasing exposure to new music and communities, which in turn influences taste.
One big misconception is that genre labels explain our tastes, when in reality, saying, “I like rock” or “I like pop” is just surface-level. Within each genre, distinct groups form on the basis of personality, identity, age, and culture. Exploring subgenres and their histories reveals how preferences reflect identity, which is why judging someone's personality based on a broad musical genre is highly inaccurate.
Music doesn’t just reflect us, it shapes us. The songs we choose can shift our mood, influence self-perception, and affect relationships. Over time, listening habits are embedded in our emotional memory, forming strong connections. Music creates community, it inspires, binds, and shapes identity. It’s pretty cool.
Sources:
Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
Psychology of music preference - Wikipedia
‘Just The Way You Are’: Music Listening and Personality | Spotify Research
Mere-exposure effect - Wikipedia
Music-evoked autobiographical memory - Wikipedia