New Spotify logo sparks mixed reaction online

Spotify is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a temporary redesign of its app logo, replacing its familiar green circle with a disco ball-inspired version. (Spotify)

Spotify is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a temporary redesign of its app logo, replacing its familiar green circle with a disco ball-inspired version that has sparked mixed reactions online.

The updated icon began appearing for users this week as part of a broader anniversary campaign, highlighting the music streaming platform’s history and user listening habits.

On May 14, Spotify acknowledged the redesign in a post on X, writing, “isn’t she lovely?” in response to discussion surrounding the new logo.

Earlier in the week, the company hinted at upcoming anniversary promotions, posting: “It’s our 20th birthday, but the gifts are for you.”

The redesigned icon keeps Spotify’s signature three curved soundwave lines but places them on a glittering green disco ball background, giving the app a retro party aesthetic tied to the anniversary celebration.

Mixed reaction

Some users praised the temporary design for being playful and different from the minimalist branding common among tech companies. Others criticized the icon, calling it distracting or visually confusing compared with Spotify’s traditional logo.

The debate quickly spread across social media platforms, where users compared the new design to early internet-era graphics and gaming culture aesthetics.

The logo rollout comes alongside Spotify’s new “Your Party of the Year(s)” feature, a personalized listening-history experience available on mobile devices. The feature allows users to explore detailed data about their time on Spotify, including the first day they used the platform, their most-streamed artists and their all-time favourite songs.

Users can access the feature by searching “Spotify 20” or “Party of the Year(s)” in the Spotify mobile app or by visiting Spotify’s anniversary page on a mobile device.

Spotify has not confirmed how long the disco-ball logo will remain on the app, but many users expect the redesign to be temporary as part of the company’s anniversary campaign.