Deezer is moving closer to profitability, marking a significant milestone for the music streaming service after it reported its first positive cash flow for 2024. To build upon this momentum, the company announced this week several new features aimed at enhancing user experience and setting itself apart in a fiercely competitive market.
At the forefront of these improvements is a customizable recommendation algorithm. Unlike those offered by rivals such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, which let users merely dislike songs to reduce future recommendations of similar tracks, Deezer’s new approach gives listeners total control. Through a fresh section called “Manage My Recommendations,” Deezer users can manually adjust recommended songs, artists, playlists, or albums, completely eliminating unwanted options.
In addition, Deezer has introduced a dedicated “dislike” button alongside its existing “like” function. A heart symbol crossed out enables users to indicate clearly which tracks they prefer not to hear again, ensuring the algorithm adjusts accordingly.
More individualized options follow in May, with users able to personalize playlist covers using various colors and stickers. The Favorites tab will also become customizable, allowing listeners to prioritize how albums or artists are displayed for quick access.
Deezer is additionally launching “My Deezer Month,” a monthly recap feature modeled after its popular annual roundup, “My Deezer Year.” Starting in early May, listeners will receive monthly snapshots highlighting their most-played songs, favorite artists, and top genres. These reports include comparative details, such as total listening time compared to the previous month and hours spent exploring top genres. Deezer hopes this feature will build on the success of its annual roundup, which saw a 30% increase in usage at the beginning of 2025. However, competition remains tough, especially from Spotify’s widely adopted yearly recap and Apple Music’s recently introduced monthly Replay option.
Lastly, Deezer revealed its “universal sharing” feature, set to debut in late April. When a Deezer user sends a music link to someone else, the recipient will now find multiple options to stream the track, including popular competing services like Spotify and Apple Music. This ensures the music can be enjoyed regardless of whether or not the recipient has a Deezer account.
The rollout of new features arrives as Deezer navigates a challenging landscape. Despite achieving positive cash flow, the streaming service saw a slight decline in subscriber numbers, falling from 10 million in 2023 to 9.7 million in 2024. Comparatively, market leader Spotify boasts a substantial advantage, with over 675 million monthly active listeners and 263 million premium-paying users.
