Implement an actual shuffle function

[RoninTheOrigina]

Yes, you read that right.  The "shuffle" function in Spotify is nothing more than a randomizer.  There's a difference?  YES.

RANDOM - Play one song.  The next song can be ANY song in your playlist.  Including the one you just listened to.  Though I've never had this specifically happen, I literally just heard the same song that I heard 2 songs ago.  This is how Spotify's "shuffle" currently functions.

SHUFFLE - Take your entire list, shuffle them (like cards), and play the first song in the shuffle.  Once finished, move that song off the pile.  Once the pile is depleted, shuffle the deck again and start over (maybe pop a message up).

I know enough about programming (not much) to know that shuffling is probably a bit harder than random, but come on.  I may be in the minority, but I don't have a lot of little playlists.  I have one list with nearly a thousand songs in it, because I like all the music, and am rarely not in the mood for one of those songs.  But what I can't stand is hearing the same song over and over again.  I think there may even be songs in my list I haven't heard yet, while I've heard others 4-5 times.

I know it may not matter much, but I would probably lay down the money for at least a year subscription if this feature was implemented.

EDIT: Another user pointed out that I can see what all is queued up in my shuffle by clicking the Play Queue link, and that Spotify supposedly sets up a rolling shuffle of 50 songs.  It would be nice if this range could be expanded to say 50-100% of your playlist.

EDIT 4/6/12: I just dealt with the same song 16 tracks later.  The song played the first time yesterday afternoon.  I went home, listened for a bit on my home PC (just a few songs), then started listening again this morning.  If the list recycles itself after a day, or if you log in from another computer, I see that as an area for improvement.

[adamgonzls]

I have a playlist that has 76 hours worth of music and I often hear the same songs over and over. If Spotify would use some sort of variable based on the current date and time in the shuffle algorithm it would be more random, I'm sure. Please Spotify we need this to work better!

[rhpnelson]

I have used various music services and this is by FAR the worst shuffle routine I have ever seen.  How cant they fix it?  I am a runner and I play a 3 hour play list.  I hear the same songs played over and over.  Once a song is played, remove it from the list.  Not hard!!!!!  Makes me want to switch back to Apple Music.

[user-removed]

I'm so discouraged by Spotify not addressing this issue long ago. I am
going to give this thing a chance hoping for the best. presently, I am
removing groups of songs that I am done with, off of my playlist, since
Spotify isn't doing it for me. I really don't have time for this but
whatever. we will see if or how long this practice works for me. I add new
songs to my playlist daily and I am putting a lot of time and energy into
this daily practice giving me a reason or incentive to hope they correct
this. since it seems this has been an issue long before I've been part of
the Spotify community, it doesn't look good for any of us to whom this is
concerned. good luck to all of us.

thanks, bocceking

[user-removed]

I'm so discouraged by Spotify not addressing this issue long ago. I am
going to give this thing a chance hoping for the best. presently, I am
removing groups of songs that I am done with, off of my playlist, since
Spotify isn't doing it for me. I really don't have time for this but
whatever. we will see if or how long this practice works for me. I add new
songs to my playlist daily and I am putting a lot of time and energy into
this daily practice giving me a reason or incentive to hope they correct
this. since it seems this has been an issue long before I've been part of
the Spotify community, it doesn't look good for any of us to whom this is
concerned. good luck to all of us.

thanks, bocceking

[vidgames]

I have to agree with many of the above. Shuffle Play doesn't do its job. I hav a 60-song playlist that I sometimes bring up, and many of the same songs play more often than others--sometimes VERY often. Yesterday, I started the playlist and took a 25-minute drive, with one particular song playing within that drive. I got out of the car at the end of the drive, did something away from the car for an hour, came back and started the playlist again, with the first song being that one particular one in the first drive. Drove 25 minutes back to my hometown and went to the store. Was in there for an hour, put the playlist on again...you guessed it, "particular song" played again. I set up a playlist for a variety of tunes, not the same ones on repeat (especially if I'm not a Premium member and can't specific a certain song to play on demand).

[SpiffyWiffy]

This is a serious issue that is making me reconsider my choice of streaming service. I am a premium member and have convinced friends and family members to sign up too, initially wooed by the great interface and solid variety of music available. We have all complained to one another in recent weeks that the shuffle-play function simply doesn't work. It has happened to me several times recently that I choose "shuffle play" and hear the same songs over and over again.  What I want is to have a list of say 50 songs, and when i hit shuffle, hear all 50 songs, once each, in a random order. Please please please make this happen somehow.

[cassidyslabaugh]

I've tweeted them numerous times in the past couple months, and they always
reply with the same thing: Hey! We’ve recently made some improvements to
our shuffle algorithm. Share your feedback here: http://spoti.fi/1ZS9ISf


but they don't seem to listen to what we say!!

[rhpnelson]

Guys hw hard is this.  Go to itunes, rhapsody...you pick and do the same thing!!!!!!  Problem solved and you make a bunch of happy people.

[user-removed]

the problem is - for me anyways - Spotify has several things about it that
really makes it hard to cancel their service, but the shuffle is really
awful and I do agree with you that I might have to switch my service. I'm
really sad though. I put all my classic rock into my playlist, all my
60's-70's Classic Rock, always adding a few songs a week, around 1000
songs. and a crap load of albums that Spotify gives easy access to. I love
Spotify, and the sound quality it gives, and for me , its better than
Rhapsody or ITunes or whatever, but if this shuffle issue that Spotify
can't seem to fix doesn't get their act together, I will switch service
like you said!!!!! thanks - bocceking

[NospmasD]

"Hello, hello, hello is there anybody in there. Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone home?"

SPOTIFY, is there anyone monitoring the community feedback? Or have you decided to ignore complaints?