Playlist Radio is being removed from the context menu

[Eni]

In March 2023, we're removing the Playlist Radio option from the playlist context menu. We'd like to hear your thoughts and feedback about this change in the comments.

  

FAQ 

Are we removing the whole radio feature?

No, we are only removing Playlist Radio. Track/artist and album radios will still be available.

Do we have features where users can have a similar experience?

Yes, right now we have the enhance button or the recently rolled out smart shuffle to give recommendations based on user-created playlists.

[GrinningCat]

This is kind of awful. The algorithm for shuffle in Spotify was mitigated only by going to the radio of preferred songs which gave some quick, tasteful variety. I suppose now I’m back to the gridlock of the same 60 out of 4000 songs on a playlist. 

[sk4nner]

So Spotify joins the club of App developers making their service progressively worse - like Apple (iTunes), Facebook etc. - to "enhance the user experience". Playlist radio has been an excellent way to discover new music based on your taste (especially outside the mainstream territory). What is the reason behind this? 

[Oz37]

I am so confused as to why they would remove this feature. It was my preferred way to listen, and I'm just... why remove features? It's so frustrating and leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth that Spotify would just yoink a feature with no explanation as to what was wrong with it. And if there was nothing wrong, why remove it? Super disappointing.

[Cabuffy]

This is bad. I may drop Spotify if Playlist radio not brought back. This makes Spotify as repetitive as Amazon Music. BAD CHANGE!!!!

[Dtietze]

If it's not back next update, I'm cancelling my subscription. The radio was the only reason I choose Spotify over YouTube music. Take that away and you have no edge.

[Winfield007]

Hey, put it back. And make it better. The thing that stunk about it was that it would blend my overarching music taste into a niched playlist’s radio. 

[BJW1]

This sucks! This was my favourite feature. Why remove it?? Please add it back.

[13monkeys]

This is the worst!! I use playlist radio all the time because it lets me listen to shorter playlists when I'm driving etc., or find songs similar to a very niche sound.

"Enhance" isn't the same at all 😞

[ktvsweet7]

this was my favorite feature to find new music! )-: please bring it back!

[Macjongy]

Why would Spotify remove the playlist radio function? Behind "discover" it was my favourite way to source new music. Bizarre move. 

[Xray58]

Please do not remove Playlist radio. 

It is an excellent feature. 

[lpa109]

This is a horrible idea this is like the only way i listen to music. What is the benefit in taking it away??? Sometimes one artist or track isn't general enough to have a radio, and i need others and then the playlist radio is perfect. Change it back immediately, i need my playlist radios.

[eyexist]

Idk why this feature would be worth removing... is there some logic to this move tha I'm missing?

[michaelcapshaw]

I think the removal of this function is a horrible decision. The go to radio function was a fast way to listen to and view songs similar to your playlist. Allowing you to add songs from the radio playlist to your playlist, quickly. You are also able to download the playlist quickly for on the go listening where you don't always have service.

The smart playlist function is horrible. It is only visible in your song queue and you are unable to download the songs unless you add them one by one to a playlist, very annoying. Also if you are without service, I live in the mountains so it happens often, and you click the smart shuffle button to go back to play without shuffle or with the regular shuffle, it just sits there and thinks since it has no service, not allowing you to return to no shuffle or the regular shuffle option.

The smart playlist is a step back not a step forward. The go to radio function is simple and efficient. It needs to be brought back. If you are trying to improve our experience, keep both functions and work on the smart playlist while allowing the go to radio function to still operate. The go to radio function should never be removed from Spotify.

[sirtopp]

Smart shuffle is not even close to "playlist radio" substitute:

1. It only works on your own playlists. I used playlist radio on other users' playlists extensively and discovered tons of fantastic songs thanks to that. Now this option is gone.

2. Smart shuffle works in ambiguous way. I don't really understand this up to this day, while "radio" is plain and simple. You could even add "add to source playlist" button to make the radio pixel-perfect, but instead you invented a feature that is hard to comprehend.

3. It's inconvenient to use. Sometimes I want to listen to my playlist, sometimes I'm inclined to hear something new. I have a choice to play playlist, or play radio. With the shuffle I have to alter the original playlist settings and the song list with the recommendations. Why don't you just put the same recommendation engine in the "radio" button? 😛 And add this to other users' playlist?

Recently I find more and more interesting music on Soundcloud and at that point I need to rethink which of those platforms actually suits my needs better.

[ChrisHe]

Katastrophe, die Radio-Funktion aus den eigenen Playlists zu entfernen. Das ist ein **bleep** zurück, denn hierdurch wurde ein absoluter USP eliminiert.

jetzt ist spotify nicht besser als Apple Music, etc.

[KlausRoberg]

 Hi there,

'Go to Playlist radio' is not showing up in the app. Did it get removed overnight?

And it used to be the bottom option in the iOS app, instead of conveniently at the top as in the Window and Mac app. I am not talking about 'Go to radio' with an artist or song, this is still there.  

Playlist radio is a function I use every day, so not very happy if it is permanently removed.

I still see the 'Go to playlist radio' in the Windows and Mac app, and there is no reason it should not be in the iOS app as well. 

Premium, iOS 16.3.1

Norway

[hanakiyo]

PLEASE bring it back! I use the playlist radio feature almost daily, it is extremely rare for me to use the alternatives like song or artist radio. I use those a few times a year tops.

Shuffle and enhance aren't the same at all. I want to keep the playlists as is without any automated changes. So please bring back playlist radio. Why remove a feature that people are clearly upset is being removed? There are so many commenters here feeling the same way.

[Rla219]

Give us back playlist radio!!  

[DoomNation]

Very unhappy out it, The playlist radio was one of the best features you had. The enhanced feature was great too. The super shuffle or whatever you call it, FAIL! I'm always filtering out bad recommendations to begin with. Now I gotta mess with shuffle? I don't get it.