Have Spotify users unwittingly predicted the Grammy winners?

Spotify, the commercial music streaming application that launched just over 3 years ago, has more data on you than you probably realise. However, unlike the Facebooks and Googles of this world, it’s not wholly personal data that they’re using. Nosiree, it’s actually data based on your listening habits, and it’s one of the many ways in which its algorithm is used to show you what new music you may like to listen to. And that’s no bad thing….

In a way to trial how effective their data is, Spotify have set about trying to guess the outcome of this weekend’s Grammy Awards.

Their predictions have been based on how often specific songs, albums and artists are listened to; in what quantity and in what timeframe. They’ve then overlayed this data [sorry if I’m getting too technical here] with user information based on age (aka, the overall buying and voting demographic). Remember, they have millions of users globally, so the amount of data they have could actually end up giving quite a strong ‘real-life’ representation.

Spotify has said that this ‘game’ of using data was “to predict which nominees would walk away with the coveted gilded gramophones if it were up to Spotify users”.

Here are some of their predictions, again based on listenership. What are your thoughts? Do you think Carly Rae Jepson should win over Adele?

Album of the Year
The Black Keys – El Camino
Fun. – Some Nights
Mumford & Sons – Babel
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Jack White – Blunderbuss

Record of the Year
The Black Keys – “Lonely Boy”
Kelly Clarkson – “Stronger”
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae – “We Are Young”
Gotye feat. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”
Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Best Country Song
Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away”
Ronnie Dunn -”Cost of Livin’ ”
Eli Young Band – “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore”
Eric Church – “Springsteen”

Best Pop Solo Performance
Adele – “Set Fire to the Rain (Live)”
Kelly Clarkson – “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
Katy Perry – “Wide Awake”
Rihanna – “Where Have You Been”

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Florence and the Machine – “Shake It Out”
Fun. – “We Are Young”
Gotye feat. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used to Know”
LMFAO – “Sexy and I Know It”
Maroon 5 – “Payphone”