Does Spotify base recommendations on the kind of tracking used by targeted advertising? I would think their recommendations are entirely based on the music you've listened to on Spotify, rather than, say, information they've gathered about your demographics, web browsing, purchasing habits, etc.
Personalized recommendations by an app based on your usage of that app are not what people mean by "targeted advertising." The privacy implications are completely different.
I thought so too, but I'm not completely sure since they rolled out the personalised "Time Capsule" playlists. Most of the tracks in mine seem more based on my age and location than my listening history. Particularly, many tracks that were in high rotation on a popular national alt/youth radio station when I was 10–15 with no obvious connection to my current listening habits.
As well I've find the time capsule playlist absolutely horrendous in all its recommendations. Sure it plays some things from my library but that's what I have my library for. Everything it's suggested has been ridiculous and honestly had me thinking it was just another corporate mandated playlist by committee based more on money for plays than my actual enjoyment of the music provided.
Personalized recommendations by an app based on your usage of that app are not what people mean by "targeted advertising." The privacy implications are completely different.