Spotify is refreshing Release Radar with new controls that give listeners more say over what appears in the weekly playlist.
A Spotify newsroom update confirms that Release Radar features refined session controls, more relevant new-release recommendations, and updated artwork. The changes are rolling out across mobile and desktop.
Release Radar already updates every Friday with new music from artists listeners follow, along with personalised picks based on their taste. Spotify says the playlist now reaches nearly 9 million listeners every week, making it one of the platform’s biggest discovery tools.
With the new controls, users can adjust Release Radar so it focuses on a specific type of discovery. According to Spotify, listeners will be able to choose from up to five options, such as “Discover new artists,” “Editors’ picks” or specific genres like pop.
That should make Release Radar more useful for people who do not always want the same kind of playlist every Friday. Some weeks, you may want new releases from familiar artists. Other times, you may want Spotify to push you toward artists you have not heard before.
Spotify is also updating the playlist’s recommendations so they better match each listener’s taste. Alongside that, Release Radar is getting new cover and header art designed around the idea of scanning for new music.
The Release Radar refresh follows other changes to Spotify’s discovery tools, including the recent addition of editor-led video recommendations to New Music Friday. Discover Weekly also offers customisable options that let listeners select up to five genres based on their listening history.
Fresh Finds is still positioned as a launchpad for emerging independent artists. Spotify notes that Japanese Breakfast, Ice Spice, Omar Apollo, Doechii, and Wet Leg all appeared on Fresh Finds before receiving major awards attention.
For most Spotify users, Release Radar is likely to be the first change they notice. The playlist is already a Friday habit for many listeners, and these new controls should make it easier to decide whether that weekly refresh leans familiar, exploratory, or somewhere in between.
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