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.

[Bodestone]

I have actually cancelled my account due to this as my only reason for subscription was for background shuffling via the Google Home Mini.

I just can't justify paying for it until I can use it for the reason I decided to start paying for it in the first place.

I have had another online chat with the Spotify team, initially to confiem that my premium would continue until end of contract, and have been assured that the shuffle issue is with the relevant teams.

In the mean time I'll stick to the 2.5k songs on my phone from CD conversion that don't pass 1990 bar Flight of the Concords, Wurzels, David Devant and His Spirit Wife, and a couple more.

[Kissy4647]

This is horrific. Feels busted. If I play a single starting with A all the ‘shuffled’ songs after also start with A, if I play a song starting with G I get all songs starting with G shuffled. Why won’t it shuffle my whole collection anymore? Please fix it

[Sobbo]

When I shuffle playlists it sometimes plays the same artist's songs all in a row. 

[mikeshif]

The shuffle mode is extremely predictable especially for longer playlists.. There should be a more unpredictable shuffle enforced.. some times I have a playlist with 3 artists (about the same amount of songs from each), and it would play songs from the same artists over and over again... It's almost like it just shuffles them in pre determined zones..

[Bodestone]

I now have my email that my exit is confirmesd and I wil not be billed further for a musi service that cannot shuffle.

I will re-itterate that the the support team on the live chat were great, just unable to comment on the status of the issue other than that trhe development team are aware.

 I have no idea how many more of you have also talked to the Support team direct.

[whitworth]

I talked the support team yesterday. They too were helpful, but I got the same response....the development team are aware! I'm not going to hold my breath! I have actually got the shuffle option to work when playing music on the phone, through the aux cable or via bluetooth. It's only when I cast to my Google Chromecast Audio devices that the shuffle only takes a sample of about 100 songs starting with the same letter. I have also raied the issue with Google, and they are also looking at it. Waiting game now. I am going to buy a cheap second hand Apple Airport Express and try streaming through that to see what happens.

[swagmacjagger]

That exactly what happens to me

[rdburton25]

I have been going to the Queue on all my Playlists like another listener
suggested and keep hitting shuffle on and off on and off and watch the
songs flip around. After four five times of hitting shuffle on and off I
hit play and shuffle seems much better.

[rednblu]

Thanks-- Useful information . . . .

[Libo]

Hello,

I've used Spotify for a while, I like to the point of having a premium account. However, there is a "problem" I have noticed when using Radio: songs repeat quickly; in other words, when I create a new Radio station, I expect to have a considerably long playlist without repetition, but that is not the case 😞

I have also noticed that when I use the shuffle option, the resulting playlist repeats songs instead of simply randomly sorting my list. For example, suppose I have a playlist with 100 songs and I play it with suffle ON, it will happen that not all 100 songs will be re-ordered but only a few of them and actually some will certainly repeat.

I consider these issues can be improved and probably many people would like it 🙂