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.

[Peterisbb]

I would also like it if this issue was fixed with any shuffle improvments.

[elibishop]

I don't care if they play some higher paying artists first. I just don't want a single song to repeat until the entire list has played through. 

[grandslamhead]

It looks like I'm not alone in this. The Shuffle mode frequently plays songs by the same artist, or even in the same album, back-to-back.

[kpwiebe]

Does anyone on this thread know how to interact with Spotify support such that concerns actually get addressed?  You know, as if we were paying for a real product??

Oh, wait...

[kpwiebe]

This is support???

[santiagoraffo]

I've done something today that seems to improve the random function:

First I started to play a track of the playlist...and only turned the "random" on after that.

[shookupart]

If the shuffle function is not improved by the next time Spotify wants to debit my bank account- I'm out. There are other music apps. If the Playlist keeps recycling the same 20 songs, what good is a Playlist that contains over 400 songs?

I've been with Spotify for a good while and this complaint is nothing new.

[grandslamhead]

I find it crazy that there are literally hundreds of paying customers complaining on these message boards and Spotify fails to acknowledge it.

[Sardior]

I'm already out, now trying out other music services. What's really bad is
that when you go to free with Spotify all they give you is this lame a$$ed
shuffle when you want to play ANY of your playlists. Very poor decision on
their part. Makes me very glad to cut of their funding for low quality
performance.

[kpwiebe]

Gotta admire the cajones of a company that takes your money and offers zero support.  Not even a *way to get support* (other than the "community" - which is forced to comment in a thread marked as "no longer an issue".  Really brilliant.  And an impressive feat:  Maintaining an impenetrable wall for over four years.

The investors must like the budget line item for Support Expense:  $ -0-