Every day, hundreds of students at Taft High School roam the hallways in their own world with music blasting through their headphones. Travis Scott, Drake, Bad Bunny, SZA, Future, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, I mean the list goes on. Why is this though? What about Spotify pulls in such a large audience, more specifically Gen Z?

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, Spotify, a digital media service providing access to millions of songs, released their annual 2023 Spotify Wrapped. Listeners are able to dive into their best listening moments from the past year all in the tap of one finger. From January to roughly two weeks before the Wrap was released, Spotify collects your data and creates playlists personalized to you.

Opening this feature, you can see your top artists, songs, albums, podcasts, and even a city in the world that matches your streaming style. “It’s convenient, which is why I like it, but it’s also pretty cool how I can see my top 5. I got Lil Dirk, Drake, Bad Bunny, Lil Baby, and Peso Pluma,” said John Garcia, a security guard at Taft. 

At Taft High School, students are constantly seen in the hallways with headphones on, draining away outside noise for their favorite artists. “Music helps with the overbearing amounts of school work put on our heads every day. I’m actually able to focus in class without hearing a teacher yell in my ears,” said Lola Pappas, an IBDP Taft senior. 

Spotify Wrapped is designed to make you feel good and unique based on what songs and artists you’ve listened to. It opens the door for individuality and students at Taft aren’t shy to share their results. From Snapchat to even TikTok, Spotify Wrapped is annually talked about each year.

As students, plenty of teachers and adults at Taft understand the importance and aid music brings. “I’ve collected enough feedback from students over the years that they work better with music,” said Anthony Pozdol, an Ethics and Entrepreneurship teacher at Taft. 

If music helps students focus during classes, how can Principal Mark Grishaber create a compromise where students keep their phones for music but also ensure it’s not a distraction? 

“I wish Grishaber wasn’t so strict with the phone tree, let students be productive in their own ways,” said Layan Kouk, Taft senior.

It’s clear how strongly students at Taft feel about music. Personally, there isn’t a day that goes by where I’m without it. Being able to listen to music allows me to efficiently get my work done all while eliminating distractions. The Spotify Wrapped makes it faster and easier for me to listen to my favorite songs. 

Despite all the love for the new feature, some students have other opinions about it. Listening to music has no benefit for them, if anything it can be more of a distraction at times. 

“Sometimes if there’s lyrics or I’m listening to rap I just wanna focus on the song rather than the work. I need something more soft-toned and chill,” said Jonah Arnold, Taft senior.

He’s not the only one, it’s understandable why students may feel this way. Some students need the music to match the vibe. Sara Louati, Taft senior, argues that as well. “I think it’s dependent on the subject. You won’t catch me listening to Future while I’m writing an essay because I’ll just be singing along. I need PND or something R&B.” 

After asking Taft students how a compromise can be made where students are able to listen to music but also stay off their phones, the idea of creating class playlists from Christina Nasios, Taft senior, was introduced. Many teachers have already participated in this idea and allow their students to pick 3 songs they want to add when listening during class.

Overall, it’s clear how not only does music help students focus during class, but even adults at Taft high school. “When I was in school I’d always have headphones in and it just made me concentrate better. I’m listening to music right now, keeps me calm and gets me through the long day,” said Garcia.

Providing the opportunity to let students listen to music opens the door to higher rates of productivity and serotonin in our own effective ways. Not only will it help us get our work done, study shows how music activates both parts of the brain (National University). 

When it comes to school it’s important to value diversity and address the ways students learn best. If that’s with music then this should be enough to prove its benefits and maximized learning efforts.