How to Create the Perfect Spotify Playlist for Any Occasion

Last Updated: October 21, 2022

Spotify playlists are the perfect way to organize music into one simple location. But what if you want to create the best playlist for any specific occasion? By building a solid foundation for a playlist, carefully curating songs, and sharing ideas with the Spotify community, this guide allows any Spotify user to create the ideal playlist of their dreams.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Building the Foundation

1
Login to your Spotify account or create one. You can use Spotify's mobile app, desktop app, or web browser to either login to your existing account or create a new one.
2
Select a playlist theme for this occasion.
- Does the playlist need to be fast or slow? (An upbeat morning routine playlist vs. a laid-back "late night drive" playlist)
- Is it for a certain event or party? (A birthday party, grad party, baby shower, wedding, etc.)
- Does the playlist have a certain mood? (Excited, sad, angry, peaceful, romantic, etc.)
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3
Create the playlist. Using your application of choice, select the "New Playlist" button in order to create a new playlist and add it to your library.
4
Name the playlist. Come up with a title that is attention-grabbing and relevant to the theme.
5
Upload an image for your playlist cover. Choose a cover that is eye-catching, while also ensuring that you have the rights to upload the image onto Spotify.
6
Write a description. Include a short description for the playlist in order to provide context on the general idea of the playlist's theme.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Curating the Playlist

1
Select your opening song. Just like how brilliant essays begin with a hook, your Spotify playlist needs to begin with an amazing song that will catch a listener's attention. This can be a song you love that matches the theme or a song from a popular artist. Be creative with your first choice, as it creates an impression for the rest of the playlist!
2
Add your favorite songs. Including artists that you love gives the playlist your own personal style and flair. Browse through your "Liked Songs" on Spotify and think about adding them to the playlist.
3
Use your "Discover Weekly" playlist. Spotify provides its listeners with a personalized playlist that updates every Monday, introducing new songs that cater to the listener's interests. Give your "Discover Weekly" a listen to see if any of those songs match your playlist's theme!
4
Check out the "Recommended" section. When you scroll to the bottom of the page, Spotify provides a list of potential songs that correspond with the songs already in your playlist and can be easily added with the click of a button.
5
Take inspiration from similar playlists already published. Spotify is a huge library filled with other playlists that may be similar to the theme you intend to follow. Search up keywords in Spotify's search bar, listen to the songs in the related playlists, and consider adding them to your list.
6
Consider the length of the event. If the playlist is for a party, try to make the playlist as long as the party's length in order to avoid repeating songs. If there is no set length to your occasion, having around 50-100 songs ensures that the playlist has enough variety, but isn't too long or short that it turns listeners away.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Sharing Your Masterpiece

1
Publish your playlist. Once you have finished adding songs, you can set the status of the playlist to be private (which makes the playlist visible only to yourself) or public (which makes the playlist visible to all Spotify users).
2
Refresh the playlist with new songs. Updating your playlist frequently creates a unique listening experience each time the playlist is listened to and keeps the song selection fresh.
3
Collaborate with others. Consider collaborating with other Spotify users in order to add more variety to your playlist. Not only does this make the playlist more lively, but it also introduces you to new music that you haven't discovered!