Listening time to tracks from VK Music recommendations increased by 60%

Streaming continues to implement product features to improve the user experience. VK Music shared the results of the recommendation system in the service based on the results of the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

The number of tracks added from VK Mix recommendations per user increased year—on-year by 103%, and the time users listened to tracks from VK Mix increased by 60%.

Listeners discover more new music in streaming. VK Music's product team conducts regular experiments and user scenario testing, which has increased the number of unique tracks in recommendations by 30% and minimized repetitions. The number of new releases in VK Mix has increased 14-fold. Now users can hear the latest news from artists in recommendations within 30 minutes after the releases are released.

"VK Mix's recommendation algorithms are more focused on discovering new music and improving the user experience. Thanks to product updates and quick work with new releases that get into user recommendations within 30 minutes of release, we managed to achieve an effective combination — an increase in the addition of tracks to My Music from the VK Mix and an increase in the total number of tracks in recommendations, while simultaneously increasing the main user metrics," said VK's lead product manager. Music by Oleg Luzin.

New sections have appeared on the VK Music homepage, which are based on the streaming recommendation system. The Mood and Activities setting selects tracks that are most suitable for spending time: from work to a party. It is also based on the user's mood right now — from joyful to calm. In the Genres setting, in addition to the previously presented key trends (pop, hip-hop, rock and electronica), new ones have appeared: indie, metal, folk, funk, jazz, funk, ambient and punk.

In the "It looks like it was listened to" section, the user finds more tracks that are collected by the recommendation system based on the last listened tracks. The "Mix by artist" section has been added, where the service recommends new artists to the user according to his taste.

Also in April, the VK Music app will have a safe search section for children. You can listen to the children's catalog through any speaker via Bluetooth, and all content will be available as part of a general subscription to the service.