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.

[garryjoz]

I have given up waiting for Spotify to implement a true shuffle function.
I just play the list in order by clicking on an individual song then
letting it work through the rest. I never click on the shuffle button. I
can live with that, but it is sad to see Spotify show such blatant contempt
for its customers. Businesses with such a dysfunctional corporate culture
don't usually last long, so Spotify will probably fail in the coming few
years.

[gaston7]

Sad 😞

[grandslamhead]

With how many people are posting here, someone should write a blog post
about how many paying customers Spotify is ignoring to see if we can force
them to address this issue.

[gaston7]

Spotify answere in fb chat please send the messaje in your country in spotify fb !!!

Its more direct! And they will hear us!!!! If we do this

[nurdayana]

I've found that when I have a long playlist (~60-100 songs), and I click shuffle play, it'll only pick a subset of songs to shuffle and play. The playlist loops before I hear all the songs on my list. Most recently this happened with my "Your Top Songs 2016" playlist.

[fcking_MOSH]

I shouldn't be paying for a shuffle this terrible. PERIOD!! if there's over an hour of songs on a playlist, I shouldn't hear the same song 2-7 times in UNDER AN HOUR!!!!

[user-removed]

This is a tiny suggestion, at least in my eyes: when we listen to songs on shuffle, the playlist or album should begin on a random song — rather on the first one in the playlist!

[alexlemmel]

I have a playlist with 188 songs and 13 artists. And what does my shuffle look like? See the attached picture. The next 10 songs to play are mostly from one artist.

I understand that shuffle is not random -- random means that among the 188 songs I have in this one playlist, one song is chosen, played, and put back in the pile of 188 songs to be selected again. Theoretically you could hear one song in twice in a row if true random was selected.

Therefore, it is evident that shuffle is an algorithm programmed by Spotify. I'd like to suggest that they program this to make it that every 10 songs cannot repeat an artist/album (when possible.) I'm sure I'm not the only person who finds it annoying when you hit shuffle on your playlist and then you hear the same album or artist for the next eight songs.

[gaston7]

Shuffle should not replay any song till all the list is played.

Another option should have a different name and function.

Spotify please show mercy and give us the real shuffle!

[Puttmania]

I use a playlist with 172 songs. I always hear the same songs. Within a couple of hours, 3-4 songs will usually replay. The shuffle feature is awful.