On August 17, 2026, Spotify introduced a new feature called Playlist Notes: It allows users and editors to add short notes to individual songs in playlists. For example, a note might explain why a track was included in the playlist or provide background information on artists and albums. The feature is available worldwide on iOS and Android, though editorial notes are currently limited to six countries.
How Playlist Notes Differs from User Notes
Playlist Notes isn’t an entirely new concept, but rather the second phase of a feature that Spotify had already launched in late July 2026 as User Notes. At that time, listeners could add private notes to individual songs in their own playlists—for example, to note who recommended the track or where they first heard it. With the expansion to Playlist Notes, Spotify is now also involving its own editorial team: Editors can provide context for individual tracks on large, curated playlists—such as the cultural context of a song.
Here’s how to add a note to a song
The feature is currently available only on the mobile apps for iOS and Android:
- In a playlist, tap the three dots next to the track you want.
- Select “Add note” or “Add note.”
- Enter your text and save it.
The note will then be visible to anyone who can open the playlist and will link to the profile of the person who wrote it. So if you want to include sensitive details, you should check your privacy settings first.
Editors Get Their Own Profiles
Another new feature is editor profiles: They showcase top tracks, albums, and the playlists an editor has contributed to. To kick things off, Spotify’s editors are using the note feature on playlists such as Today’s Top Hits, RapCaviar, Hot Country, All New Pop, mint, and Fresh Finds Hip-Hop. A “Notes” button appears at the very top of the participating playlists.
Rollout: Where and for whom the feature is launching
| Feature | Platform | Availability | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Notes (Custom Playlists) | iOS, Android | Over 100 markets worldwide | 16 years |
| Editor Notes & Profiles | iOS, Android | USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand | 16 years |
Spotify has not specified whether Germany is among the more than 100 markets where User Notes are already available. In any case, no release date has yet been announced for the editorial notes and editor profiles in Germany.
Why Spotify Is Focusing on Notes Instead of New Algorithms
Playlist Notes is part of a whole series of features Spotify is using to make its playlists feel more personal—from custom playlist covers and song transitions to the annual Spotify Wrapped recap. The idea behind this: While Apple Music and YouTube Music are primarily focused on algorithms and sound quality, Spotify is increasingly positioning itself through social features that evoke shared mixtapes from the pre-streaming era—only now they’re right in the app instead of on a homemade CD.
If you like to archive your playlists offline or add your own notes to them anyway, you’ll find helpful tips on how to save streams in our Audials One guide. Competitor Tidal, on the other hand, is relying more on more affordable hi-fi subscriptions than on new social features to set itself apart from Spotify.
Conclusion
Spotify Playlist Notes transforms bland track lists back into something that looks like genuine curation, complete with context from editors and personal notes from friends. The feature has already been widely rolled out to users, but editorial notes and editor profiles remain limited to six English-speaking markets for now. Whether and when Germany will follow remains to be seen once Spotify announces the next phase of expansion.
Sources: Spotify Newsroom
