Sabrina Carpenter, seemed to have struck gold with her latest hit "Please Please Please," which was released on June 6. It has now surpassed her earlier single "Espresso," which dropped on April 11, on the Billboard Hot 100.
Despite Carpenter's track record of producing hit songs over the years, some social media users are starting to find her music somewhat overwhelming, particularly due to her prominent presence in Spotify's algorithms.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, a user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, "Like this if Spotify automatically plays her music for you too, I'm trying to see something."
The tweet garnered significant attention, amassing over 87K likes and 3K quotes before its removal.
Several users reported experiencing Sabrina Carpenter's songs playing unexpectedly on their Spotify and YouTube playlists.
One user lamented, "Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso' has single-handedly destroyed my Spotify algorithm."
Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso has single-handedly destroyed my Spotify algorithm
— squeaky fromme the block (@averpee) May 17, 2024
Another expressed frustration, saying, "Sabrina Carpenter makes algorithmic music, doesn't that bother anyone? Doesn't it bore you at least."
sabrina carpenter makes algorithm music doesn’t that bother anyone doesn’t it bore u at least 😫
— oddish (@aspartamebrain) April 26, 2024
According to Spotify's however, "When you reach the end of an album, playlist, or selection of songs, Spotify automatically plays similar songs so the music never stops."
Additionally, Spotify employs Discovery Mode to personalize playlists by analyzing similar artists and labels that the listener streams, although results are not guaranteed.
Dr. Chris Anderton, an expert in Cultural Economy and music business, speculated on the matter, suggesting a potential financial aspect influencing the prominence of "Espresso" across Spotify.
Dr. Anderton noted Spotify's autoplay feature now emphasizes artist recommendations over playlist history. Furthermore, Carpenter's affiliation with Universal Music, which holds shares in Spotify, might contribute to her songs being prioritized to enhance the platform's data metrics.
While there is no definite answer yet, fans seemed to be doubting Carpenter's success now and believing a global, deliberate influence at play. As of now, neither Spotify nor Carpenter's team has issued a statement addressing these observations.
For fans though, this does not bother them. At the same time, Carpenter will soon be embarking on her Short n' Sweet tour, spanning three months across North America. This headlining tour supports her upcoming sixth studio album, Short n' Sweet, set for release on Aug. 23.
The tour will commence on Sept. 23 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus and will include a landmark performance at New York's Madison Square Garden, marking Carpenter's first headlining show at this iconic venue. The tour will also visit cities such as Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Montreal, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando, Salt Lake City, Dallas, San Diego, Phoenix, and more, concluding at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Nov. 15.
Joining Carpenter on this musical journey will be Amaarae from Sept. 23 to Oct. 14, Griff from Oct. 16 to Oct. 30, and Declan McKenna from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15.
Tickets for the Short n' Sweet tour will be available for general sale starting Friday, June 28 at 10 a.m. local time.
