Did you ever think you could make money with your Spotify data? What for many is only an annual summary with favorite songs and artists, for others it is a source of real value. An increasing group of users has decided sell your listening history To train artificial intelligence models. Spotify, who has become Wrapped into one of its most recognizable brands, has not taken to react and the tension is served.
Wrapped was born in 2015 as a tool to visualize listening habits and became a global tradition. Today, its popularity has given Unwrapped, a collective managed by the decentralized vain platform. More than 18,000 users have grouped their data to sell them to interested companies. According to Ars Technica, in June they achieved their first sale: a portion of data for $ 55,000 to only AI, with an average payment of about five dollars in cryptocurrencies for each participant.
Wrapped is no longer just marketing: it is the center of a data control fight
The interest in these data is not accidental: Spotify collects a detailed history of each account, searches, devices, approximate locations and technical records. All of that is available to any user through a Official download optionwhich offers packages in JSON format with years of history and precise data on the use of the platform. But although access is legal, its use has clear limits in the terms of Spotify.
The policy for developers prohibits using Spotify data or contents to train artificial intelligence models, resell information or replicate essential platform functions without permission. Spotify confirmed to the aforementioned medium that he sent a letter to those responsible for UNWRAPPed warning that the project could violate its registered trademark and violate these policies. The company insists that users can download their data, but does not authorize that they are monetic through third parties.
The Unwrapped page, which until recently allowed to register and sell data, is no longer available. At the time of publishing this article, an English message appears that we have translated: “This service is no longer available. We regret the inconvenience. If you have any questions, get in touch with support. ”It is not clear if the closure responds to Spotify actions or a decision of the developers, who have not given explanations about this.
Unwrapped was born, according to its creators, so that users had more control over their data, although their future is uncertain. Vana, the platform that drives it, argues that the project allows to group information in a community and collectively bargain its use. They explain that it is unlikely that a user manages to sell their data separately: companies are looking for broad sets, such as those who create vain, and then distribute the income among those who participate.
Wrapped continues to be for most users a curious and shared annual summary. But the interest in monetizing this data makes it clear that the discussion about who controls personal information is not yet resolved. Spotify has expressed reservations on projects that use their services out of what is allowed, while decentralized proposals try to gain relevance. It is about to see what will happen finally with this project and others of similar characteristics.
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