Spotify Playlist Builder

Build playlists from natural language using the Spotify Web API.

Updated for the February 2026 API changes (Dev Mode).

Prerequisites

• Spotify Premium account (required for Dev Mode apps since Feb 2026)
• Python 3 with requests library

Setup

1. Create an app at https://developer.spotify.com/dashboard
2. Set redirect URI to http://127.0.0.1:8765/callback (must be 127.0.0.1, not localhost - Spotify blocks localhost)
3. Run auth:

python3 scripts/auth.py --client-id <ID> --client-secret <SECRET>

1. Open the printed URL in a browser and authorize
2. If the callback page loads automatically, done. Otherwise copy the full redirect URL and run:

python3 scripts/auth.py --client-id <ID> --client-secret <SECRET> --code-url "<FULL_REDIRECT_URL>"

Tokens are saved to ~/.openclaw/workspace/config/.spotify-tokens.json and auto-refresh on 401.

API Script Reference

All commands in scripts/spotify.py. All output JSON.

# Search (tracks, artists, or albums)
python3 scripts/spotify.py search "bohemian rhapsody" --limit 5
python3 scripts/spotify.py search "Bonobo" --type artist --limit 3
python3 scripts/spotify.py search "Moon Safari" --type album --limit 3

# Create playlist
python3 scripts/spotify.py create "Rainy Sunday" --description "Chill vibes" --private

# Add/remove tracks (by Spotify URI)
python3 scripts/spotify.py add <playlist_id> spotify:track:xxx spotify:track:yyy
python3 scripts/spotify.py remove <playlist_id> spotify:track:xxx

# List playlists
python3 scripts/spotify.py my-playlists --limit 10

# View playlist contents
python3 scripts/spotify.py playlist-tracks <playlist_id> --limit 50

# Listening history
python3 scripts/spotify.py top-tracks --time-range short --limit 20
python3 scripts/spotify.py recently-played --limit 20

# Profile
python3 scripts/spotify.py me

Playlist Building Workflow

When a user asks for a playlist:

1. Interpret the request - extract mood, genre, era, activity, or specific artists/songs
2. Search for tracks - use multiple targeted searches to find tracks matching the vibe
3. Use listening history - check top-tracks and recently-played to personalize if relevant
4. Create and populate - create the playlist with a creative name and description, add 15-30 tracks
5. Share the link - return the Spotify URL

Tips

• Run multiple searches with different angles (artist names, genre keywords, era + mood combos)
• Mix well-known tracks with deeper cuts for a good playlist feel
• top-tracks --time-range short shows what the user's been into recently (last 4 weeks)
• top-tracks --time-range long shows all-time favourites
• Aim for 15-30 tracks unless the user specifies otherwise
• Name playlists creatively based on the vibe, not just the literal request

Feb 2026 API Limitations (Dev Mode)

• Recommendations endpoint removed - build playlists via search + curation instead
• No popularity field on some responses - may return 0
• Playlist endpoints renamed from /tracks to /items (already handled in scripts)
• Premium required for the app owner
• Max 5 users per app, 1 app per developer
• No batch endpoints for albums/artists/tracks (use individual lookups)

Cron Ideas

Combine with OpenClaw cron for automated playlists:

• Weekly refresh - build a new playlist every Monday based on a rotating theme
• Time-of-day playlists - morning focus, afternoon energy, evening wind-down
• Commute playlist - auto-build a playlist matched to journey duration
• Weather-reactive - check weather, adjust playlist mood accordingly