French music streaming platform Deezer has rolled out a significant upgrade to its Flow Tuner feature, giving users deeper control over algorithm-generated playlists — and reportedly reducing the presence of unwanted AI-generated tracks.
The update allows subscribers to actively ban or encourage specific genres and subgenres within their personalized Flow playlist. That means if you don’t want pop showing up in your alternative rock rotation, you can now explicitly exclude it.
Users can also reverse the restriction at any time, effectively “lifting the embargo” on previously banned genres.
More control over the algorithm
The Flow Tuner tool, which builds a continuously updating playlist based on listening habits, now reflects user tweaks instantly. Beyond banning genres, listeners can also add styles they’ve never explored before, encouraging music discovery in a more intentional way.
This contrasts with features offered by rivals such as Spotify and Apple Music, which provide limited feedback tools like thumbs-down buttons or song exclusions, but offer less transparency over how recommendations are adjusted.
Addressing AI music concerns
The upgrade also comes amid growing industry debate about AI-generated music flooding streaming platforms. While details remain limited, reports suggest Deezer’s algorithm now deprioritizes or filters out low-quality AI-generated content — often criticized by users as “AI slop.”
For listeners frustrated with algorithmic unpredictability, Deezer’s approach may represent a shift toward user-directed personalization rather than purely machine-led curation.
Whether this move will prompt similar changes from competitors remains to be seen, but for now, Deezer appears to be positioning itself as the platform putting the algorithm “in its place.”
