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Here’s Why Everyone Is Talking About Their Spotify Age

If you’ve been on social media for more than 12 seconds this week, you’ve probably seen people announcing their Spotify Listening Age like it’s the latest zodiac sign. Everyone’s posting it, everyone’s confused and everyone’s wondering if Spotify is dragging them or complimenting them.

And honestly? The results are wild. In fact, two of our very normal, very 40-something editors somehow came back with “ages” of 71 and 21—proof that whatever this is measuring, it’s not regular math. So what, exactly, is Spotify’s Listening Age? It’s a new, quirky feature that debuted with Spotify Wrapped 2025. Think of it as a playful little label that claims to sum up the era your listening habits fall into (basically, the vibe your music tastes gives off) rather than anything tied to your actual birthday.

Curious about how to hunt down your own Listening Age in this chaos and see what it reveals about you? Read on to find out. We’re just getting this playlist started.

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How does Spotify determine your Listening Age?

Spotify determines your Listening Age by looking at when the music you’ve been streaming was originally released. It checks all the songs you listened to this year, finds the five-year era you leaned into more than other listeners your age and then assumes you were around 16 to 21 years old back then. From there, it calculates what age you would be today. According to Spotify, “Your Listening Age is based on the idea of a ‘reminiscence bump,’ which is the tendency to feel most connected to the music from your younger years.”

So if your playlists are full of early 2010s emo bops or 2019 TikTok hits—take Paramore’s “Misery Business” or “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, for example—your Listening Age might land in your mid-20s, even if you’re actually over 35.

Why are listeners’ ages sometimes mismatched?

It all comes down to your musical mood swings. Maybe you’re a 40-something office worker who secretly blasts Olivia Rodrigo in the car, or a teen who’s obsessed with Fleetwood Mac because your parents won’t stop playing it. Spotify isn’t guessing your birthday; it’s just looking at the era of music you gravitate toward the most. That’s why you’ll see some people showing up as 71 (because they spent most of the year bingeing classic Sinatra) and others as 21 (because their top tracks are all Meghan Trainor or Doja Cat hits). It’s chaotic, slightly ridiculous and honestly … kind of hilarious.

How are people reacting to their Spotify Listening Ages?

@tarabrigham& lots of Dean 🤍♬ Heaven Can Wait – Dean Martin


Social media is overflowing with memes about Spotify’s Listening Ages, and the commentary is *chef’s kiss*. People who are barely out of college are discovering they apparently have the musical soul of a retiree, while older listeners are bragging that Spotify thinks they’re practically Gen Z. One TikToker even posted that her Listening Age was 80—which, to be fair, checks out when you spend all summer vibing to 1960s jazz.

Reddit’s getting in on it too: One parent shared that their 14-year-old son hijacked their account, and his Listening Age came back as 50 thanks to an obsession with Weezer, Radiohead and Nirvana. Even the Los Angeles Chargers joined the fun. One NFL player, age 33, scored a Listening Age of 24, while another was handed a very distinguished 67 thanks to his love of ’70s soul. It’s unhinged, hilarious and very possibly the best part of Spotify Wrapped.

How do you figure out your Listening age?

Simply open up your Spotify Wrapped, and somewhere in that colorful, scrollable extravaganza, Spotify will slap your Listening Age right in your face. There are no quizzes or surveys, just a number based on the musical eras you’ve been jamming to the most.

But if you want to see this, do it sooner rather than later: This is a temporary end-of-the-year feature.

Can you cheat?

Not really, unless you’re willing to spend 11 months blasting nothing but one oddly specific era of music. Spotify bases your number on your actual listening patterns for the entire year, so a last-minute binge of 2004 bangers (The Cheetah Girls, anyone?) won’t magically turn you into a Disney pop–era kid again.

But if you’re determined to shift your Listening Age, consider it a long game—something to start plotting now for next year’s Spotify Wrapped.

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Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Spotify: “The Simple Truth About How Your Wrapped Comes to Life”
  • TikTok: @tarabirgham
  • TikTok: @chargers
  • Reddit: “Please share your Spotify “LISTENING AGE” results here (not as a post)”

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