Opinion | Monthly playlists will transform your listening experience

Creating a new playlist every month has lots of benefits for those who refuse to be confined to one sound. Illustration by YANA SAMOYLOVA, Illustrator

Music can make the listener feel seen or validated, so monthly playlists can be like a melodic extension of yourself. Whatever you’re going through, celebrating, relating to or aspiring for in that given month could be represented with your own personalized tracklist.

Laila Freeman, News Editor

Avid music consumers are always trying to curate the perfect playlist for their daily routine. Playlists offer musical freedom, yet so often, they are created with songs from one specific artist, genre or vibe. But those who shamelessly beat songs to death — able to listen to the same song 10 times in a row — should consider making monthly playlists instead.

This method is definitely not for people who stick to just one sound during a listening session. Creating monthly playlists is for those whose taste resembles the houses in Santa Monica; think the two viral black and pink homes next to each other. If you get excited by the idea of tuning in to JID, Mitski, Zach Bryan and Kali Uchis back-to-back, then monthly playlists may just be for you. 

Hit shuffle and enjoy the sudden switch-ups.

Since 2019, I have made a new Spotify playlist every month that includes the songs I am listening to — both new and old music. I use it to gather my favorite songs from the latest album drops as well as to place those songs I adore but have forgotten about. It ends up being a reference point to locate various tracks.

I could be out shopping and hear a song I like, so I’ll add it to my monthly playlist to revisit. Or if my mom has a 70s rock hit blasting in the kitchen that I remember I liked, I’ll add it to the playlist. 

Wherever and whenever you hear a song you already love or are intrigued by that you’d like to listen to later, the playlist can help you keep track of them. This method serves as an organization tool in multiple ways.

Over time, selecting songs that fit into a specific genre or category can lead to extremely long playlists. This can make finding “that one song” difficult. And while a monthly playlist can also accrue a lot of tracks, once the next month begins and the current one ends, a new playlist will be created. Committing to monthly playlists can help you find that one song you can’t quite remember the title of if you remember the specific month or general time in your life when you last heard it.

Once you have quite the collection of monthly playlists, revisiting them transports you back to particular months in your life. It's a great way to indulge in some nostalgia and rediscover old favorites. Plus, you can track how your musical interests have evolved over time.

This recurring practice doesn’t need to eliminate those mood playlists altogether, although it can. I’m currently in the process of finding songs for my ideal autumn playlist since the fall season is approaching. I’ve been diving back into playlists from previous months to select all the music that provides that cozy atmosphere I’m looking for. 

Even as someone who can listen to one song repeatedly without getting bored or tired of it, I still need to cleanse my musical palette. For one month, I listen to the same songs on repeat and then start over with a whole new batch of tunes the next month. It sets the expectation that I must listen to different music once a month is over, which often motivates me to find more artists I enjoy listening to. 

At the end of the year, I can look back at those 12 playlists and know that every song that was a part of my monthly routine is accounted for. It becomes a summary of my year in music. I encourage you to try it out!