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.

[law_a]

I'm literally ready to leave Spotify and jump to another service over this. I used to LOVE discovering new songs and artists with Spotify radio, but now its totally useless, just like AI playlists. Why do I need to listen to the same songs over and over that I've already liked? 

[Conscience]

Have a "enable and disable" button that only recommends songs the algorithm knows you've never heard before. As an avid listener of songs, I'm tired of playing a song radio and only seeing titles I recognize. I want to be able to constantly and truly discover new music if I want to, or disable the feature if I am okay with some old tunes! 

[deranders]

Please implement this ASAP

[Strommingen]

More than 3 years, 3000 likes and hundreds of desperate appeals from music lovers globally for this ”urgent” request I think we need to realize Spotify is never going to fix this.

i breaks my heart and spirit that one of the best sources of new musical discoveries is dying.

What I can’t understand is why? Could a MODERATOR at least have the courtesy to give us an honest and transparent explaination please? Not the standard generated answer that say ”we keep monitoring new ideas and will let you know if theres any progress”. An honest answer based on our common deep passion for music that I think we deserve after all these years

I think a majority of the people in this thread are hardcore users that have been there for and with you since day one. What is the point of having these forums if sub-par core functionality like this are ignored for years?

I haven’t deleted my account yet but my spirit of hope hear is slowly dying. I’ve already turned to youtube music and recently also started to buy vinyl on Discogs again. Although that has got my passion for musical discoveries up again it sadens me that in 2024 there aren’t any awesome digital music streaming services anymore. 😕💔

[rcs2]

Can anybody here recommend any other streaming services which does a better job at new music discovery/song recommendations?

After years of following this page, I'm definitely ready to try another service. 

[jtomusic]

@rcs2 I’ve been using last.fm as a recommendation layer on top of spotify. works pretty well.

[mrhestew]

I tried Apple Music for a while and it played new songs. My family was reluctant to switch, but after finding a couple apps that help you migrate all your favorites between services, my wife stopped pushing back at least. I think we’ll switch to Apple Music. Family plans are a little cheaper after the price hike; though, I’m expecting Apple will raise their prices soon because everyone else did. Gotta please show shareholders, right? 😡

[bsmithb]

My Question or Issue

I often use radio to try to create a varied playlist based on a song or artist I like. The same songs are included in these radio playlists over and over. They may be artists I know but they are the most popular songs by those artists. I’m so disappointed in how little variety I get with any radio I try.

[luiisrenato]

Use to be a awesome feature where you could listen to your favourite songs and discover new songs.

it use to respect the context, my Metallica radio plays almost the same songs as my blink182 radio. 
just go back to the old ways when we could easy kick the songs out easily.

[Strommingen]

 

At first I thought it was just me. Finding this thread I realized we are many that are very dissapointed with this never being solved. Now there’s even an article in The New Yorker about this entitled ”Why I finally quit Spotify”…