Blog1 min read
On naming a playlist
The titles are weight-bearing. Most playlists give that away too cheaply.
Most playlist titles are sales copy. Get Pumped. Deep Focus. Chill Vibes. The titles are honest about what the playlists do, but they're also doing too much — they tell you what to feel, and a listener who isn't already feeling that arrives at the playlist defensive.
The titles on this site are deliberately small. Music for Sleep. Spa & Wellness. Lo-Fi & Study. They name a room, not a feeling. The feeling is yours to bring; the playlist tries to fit it without instructing you.
A name does real work. A title that's too cute makes the playlist feel like a joke that ages. A title that's too generic makes the playlist feel like search-result furniture. The sweet spot is a name that describes the room well enough that a listener can decide for themselves whether they want to be in it.
I tend to draft three titles for any playlist, leave them for a week, and pick whichever one I'm least embarrassed about. Embarrassment is usually a better signal than enthusiasm.