Spotify & "Song Radio" is Essentially Just an Echo Chamber & Doesn't Breed Discovery

[cawul]

This hasn't always been the case, and I don't know if this has to do with the amount of time I've had my Spotify account or if something about the algorithm has drastically changed - but whenever I start a radio based off a song or artist (which is with the intention to find a NEW artist or NEW music that is related to the song/artist I'm starting the radio off of) it just creates essentially a playlist of music I've been listening to - and not even within the same genre off the song.

I've realized that I haven't found any new artists or any new music, and just continuously listen to the same things over and over again which is quite depressing. The point of the song radio or at least how I use it is to discover new artists that are in the same realm of the artist I'm listening to, and I think you all at Spotify are putting everyone - artist AND listener - at a huge detrimental disadvantage by having it go that way because then there is no discovery for new artists and there is no way for listeners to get into new music without scouring the platform instead of giving good recommendations based off your algorithm. More than anything I want to be able to discover new artists based off song radio, not just hear the same songs I've been listening to. If I wanted to listen to those songs, I would just continue to listen to them. Especially since maybe when I start a song radio off something that is midwest-emo/indie, it'll still play hyperpop/rap in the same playlist which are two completely different genre's and moods.

[Strommingen]

Yeah! I’ve been a premium customer since day one and always said I’d nevee leave Spotify but this is about to push me to the edge. Got 15 years of history, thousands of playlist BUT I came here to discover new music and the repetition of tracks I’ve heard hundreds of times is making me dissapointed daily 😕

I recently signed up for Youtube music. Even deeper backcatalogue and also a very well working RADIO feature.

This might be the final appeal, please Spotify crew bring REAL radio feature back now! ❤️🤞

[Aconite]

This theme crosses multiple ideas on the Exchange currently.
One of the biggest frustrations for so many users is to more efficiently discover new music rather than 70%+ of what they are presented being the content they already know about.
Multiple ways this could be implemented, over a playlist, artist, genre or track.
One option might be to allow a toggle using the same approach as SmartShuffle but showing only the "smart" additions and not the tracks in the underlying source whether that is a playlist, album etc so that every track would be a potential new discovery.

[Armand]

Just look at this and the immense variety spotify gives me everyday

[c0nman31]

I came here to provide the exact same feedback, in hopes that Spotify will fix the Radio feature. It used to be amazing. I could discover new, similar music. Now, I'm just served up the same songs I always listen to. It's useless. Such a bummer.

[Someoneelsetoo]

Not only are all the playlists an ego of the artists on other playlists it’s always the same song from the artists just over and over and over again no matter what playlist I choose. No matter what the title of the playlist is that would allude to it being something new at most there will be a couple new songs, and then it’s the same as every other playlist.

At the very least get the algorithm to start picking different songs from the same artist. Some artists are getting tens of millions of play counts on their top song and their second best song is maybe 1 million plays. I still want to listen to the second song and the third song and the rest of their songs. Especially after hearing their top song over and over and over again! It would be great if there was a new section of playlists that was all songs that have never been played before on your account. Maybe as there is a top picks section that plays based on past listening play counts there can be a section that’s the opposite of that where the more a song has been played the less likely it would be to be picked for the playlist.

[torolecarte]

That's weird, I just started to notice this same behavior.
Is that a problem with the algorithm? I'm always listening to the same songs when I try to start a radio from a song.

Is there a way to reset the account?

[miss_sophie99]

It's 2024 and this is still an issue. So many mad Spotify Premium members on reddit. 

People want the freedom and creativity of finding new artists and creating their own playlists.

"In past times I would get music that was related to the song itself. Now, it seems that I get songs Spotify thinks I like that a not necessarily related to the specific song's deeper like sub genre. Is this common? Was this an instituted change?"

"They removed the ability to make a radio based off of playlists. I use that so much to find new music, to lose this is a bit crushing tbh. Luckily my phone hasn’t updated to the new UI, but I missed this feature and the “enhanced” feature."

[jazzjazon]

I also have been having the same issue. Clearly, considering all the votes for this idea and comments associated with it, a lot of people are having this issue. I for one am also getting the same sequence of songs whenever I go to radio based on any Brazilian song that I choose. Radio stations used to play songs of the same era and same genre as the song chosen to base your station on. Now, I get the same sequence of songs regardless of song chosen to start it off. This is really annoying. I’m even considering switching to a different music streaming service, although I’ve been resisting to it because I am so used to Spotify and have been using for about ten years. It’s unfortunate that Spotify is getting worse in the radio station aspect of it after AI was brought into the streaming service. I’ll give it another month and see if this issue is fixed. After that, I’ll just switch to another service and hope that they’re better at that.

[Strommingen]

I scrolled up and realized it’s now three (!) years ago this deep annoyment reached the spotify developers. 

I read yesterday that every day 120 000 new songs are added. Every day (!) In short 1.2 million songs and you’re still killing off songs that I used to love but don’t want to listen to as ”radio suggestions” every day.

E.g. Sean Escoffery ”Space rider” used to be my jam now I feel real annoyed when Spotify ”suggests” it. You’ve killed off so many of my previous fave tunes. Why?! Just stop! Please!

From one of the greatest enjoyments in life to almost torture everytime ”radio” turns back on 😕

I’ve also tried out Youtube music the last six months and it feels like coming up for air after a deep dive. I’m discovering so much new music again

I’ve invested so many years in building my music library and preferences with you with many thousands of playlists. I really don’t wanna leave Spotify but you need to act now. We’re begging you.

Bring back curiosity. Bring back the love of music. Bring back the love of musical discovery that was at the core when Spotify was founded.  ❤️🙏

[LadyPenelopeC]

So well described. I’m going to try YouTube music I think. Spotify is just
getting harder to enjoy as everything becomes so repetitive and “For me”.
It’s like the algorithm gets obsessed with particular tracks I’ve listened
to before and keeps adding them into various playlists.