Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

As streaming platforms inundate users with endless content, Spotify playlists have become a handy resource for people who want to curate and easily discover content that's aligned with their personal tastes. How can brands provide music fans with personalized and participatory user experiences?

From nu metal to pop punk, Gen Zers are gazing backwards into the canon of music and pulling out a string of genres from the 90s and 00s. But as the Y2K alt-music scene travels into the present, how are young people reinventing the past while simultaneously idealizing it?

Bopdrop is an app that enables social music sharing through integration with Spotify and Apple Music, where users post one song per day. The platform appeals to Gen Zers who are seeking more human ways to find music, share music, and build their identities as music fans.

Having grown up with data breaches and a seemingly ever-decreasing lack of online privacy, Gen Zers have cynical attitudes towards the data privacy communications offered by companies. In turn, there is pressure on brands to keep up with the growing demand for digital transparency.