Gen Z Are Curating Their Digital Legacy, One Playlist At A Time

Gen Z excels at curation. The Zoomers were born into the internet and have been profoundly shaped by the dynamic nature of digital culture.

Being raised on social media is akin to being raised on the idea that perception is everything - the internet will never die, images are forever, and how one is seen is everlasting.

We can see how this sentiment has informed the way that members of Gen Z interact with music streaming platforms.

New data from a national research survey shows that many young Aussies are soundtracking their legacies on Spotify in a bid to curate how they will be remembered: the “legacy playlist,” a fascinating example of personal curation grounded in the notion of controlling the aesthetic of one’s digital footprint, has become a common concept amongst Spotify users.

Apparently, 48% of young Spotify users say shaping their digital legacy is a top priority. As such, legacy curation is now officially a ‘thing,’ with Spotify seeing a 22% spike in ‘legacy’ playlists year-on-year, with Gen Z making up nearly a third of these playlists.

It seems that the curation of these playlists gives people a semblance of control, and that music selection allows people to put a positive spin on their lives. 68% of respondents said that they want to leave behind something positive, while 48% want to be in control of how people will remember them.

Indeed, according to the data, the most popular legacy song on Spotify is Frank Sinatra’s iconic, rousing number My Way, which has been added to over one thousand playlists. What better song is there to represent a life and curate a legacy with?

Artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Arctic Monkeys are among the top five musicians being added to legacy playlists on Spotify, showcasing the lively angst and punk spirit of young Australians. Others include Jeff Buckley - another artist famous for his poignant angst - and Coldplay - a general crowd-pleaser.

In fact, the Arctic Monkeys' moody hit Do I Wanna Know? is one of the top songs added to legacy playlists this year, notably quite a departure from classic memorial music, but it is a song of big, unflinching emotions, which in many ways makes it a perfect inclusion.

Michael Messineo, also known as Mike's Mic, a YouTuber, TikToker and music fanatic, who regularly documents his life and legacy on Spotify, weighs in on the phenomenon.

"The amount of music I listen to is, quite simply, ridiculous (and I have the Spotify Wrapped stats to prove it). I've always loved putting together Spotify playlists - serious, silly, or both - and particularly love the late 90s/early 00s, an era that is so important to pop culture now. Creating a ‘legacy playlist’ on Spotify to represent me honestly just makes sense - how else would I want to be remembered?"