Spotify Puts K-Pop Artists In Blend Playlist, Fans Can Directly Interact With BTS

JAKARTA - After introducing the Blend playlist last year, Spotify announced Friday, May 20 again that they are now expanding the feature to include K-pop artists. The list also includes the mega-popular boyband, BTS.

Spotify Blend playlists are an easy way for users to create shared playlists based on each user's listening preferences. In March, the company released an update to its music discovery feature that includes the ability to "mingle" with other users, even up to 10 people, or with a music artist. This new K-pop expansion is an example of the latter.

Blend's K-pop artists include BTS, Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Nmixx, and AB6IX. This feature will combine your favorite tracks with songs from the bands mentioned above. Of course, it wouldn't be a Spotify feature if it didn't include some data as well.

Once you've combined your playlists, you may receive a "share card" that displays a "match of taste" score identifying which songs you have shared. The card can then be shared on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.

K-pop has become a global phenomenon in recent years due to the fact that bands are very active online. Idols are encouraged to interact with fans on various social media platforms, which in turn fosters parasocial relationships with fans.

Spotify's Blend feature fits nicely into that dynamic, as it creates the feeling that you know something about a particular group or idol. This is the reason why Spotify launched the feature.

Whether the playlists that Spotify generates are on target is another matter entirely. My BTS Blend playlist seems to suggest BTS and I want to listen to Post Malone a lot... and I'm fine.