The vagaries of the Spotify algorithm

[HoratioCuthbert]

Anyone come across the new "AI" DJ dude feature yet .?

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

Yes, he's very friendly. He wants to switch things up for me.

 

[May Kasahara]

Top of my Daily Mix 1 - Coldplay God Put a Smile on my Face

I listened to it once alright. Once. There was a bit of discussion on here and I listened to it for academic reasons only. Once. (honest)

Chris Martin is now part of my life now forever.

I had a horrible shock this morning after the final track of OK Computer played out and Coldplay appeared straight afterwards. I have never knowingly listened to Coldplay on Spotify, or indeed anywhere else.

 

[Silas Loom]

I am quite liking Spotify’s recent habit of putting together “mixes”, based on things I frequently play that its algorithm classifies as being in the same ballpark, leavened with the type of track that it would autoplay when an album is finished.

Two issues, though. It cuts off tracks which it considers overlong for some reason, which is rubbish for post-rock, stoner rock and ambient genres, where many songs have only started to get going after ten minutes or so. And like the autoplay, it doesn’t really understand what one dislikes: personally I can’t tolerate vocals which use tone to impart soulfulness or similar emotions, but am perfectly happy with most new wave and post punk singers, or with choral arrangements and chanting.

I wish there was a way to take the Spotify algorithm aside and have a quiet word about these things. But I still can’t believe that I have access to every song ever recorded (Cardiacs, Einsturzende Neubaten and some Magyar Posse aside), with some often fantastic algorithmic suggestions, for only a small monthly fee. And with any book I want to read available for free on annas-archive, too. There has never been a better time in history to be housebound or misanthropic.

 

[Chilli.s]

So glad I dont pay for this, their free service is full of the same problems, but free

 

[Petcha]

I appreciate that Spotify seems to have decided to go back to my teenage self and keep pushing Guns n Roses on me but my listening history is pretty much people like Daniel Avery and David Holmes. It's a bit bizarre. Does it stalk you?

I did actually almost kick my tenant out the other week over his objection to sweet child of mine being blasted at 3am on a wednesday. I blame spotify, not me.

 

[Voley]

Just like last time this thread came up, it still wants me to listen to Kate Bush.

 

[Voley]

Anyhow, it's just chosen this for me so it's forgiven:

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Here's a weird one. I lost my dad last week. Yesterday I saw that Spotify has a 'made for me' playlist on coping with loss. Which makes me think a) how did it know and b) why the fuck does Spotify think listening to Snow Patrol or Against All Odds by Phil Collins would make me feel better?

 

[Voley]

Here's a weird one. I lost my dad last week. Yesterday I saw that Spotify has a 'made for me' playlist on coping with loss. Which makes me think a) how did it know and b) why the fuck does Spotify think listening to Snow Patrol or Against All Odds by Phil Collins would make me feel better?

Sorry to hear that, MO. And, yeah, that's really fucking weird - I'd find that creepy.

 

[skyscraper101]

I'm so sorry to hear that Monkeygrinder's Organ

I'm really tiring of spotify with this stuff. Its playlists are just so generic and obvious. If if was that clever it would've realised by now that I've never once played any of their recommended playlists and stop with all this. It's actually pushing me back to youtube music which conveniently now has all my old pre-spotify mp3s backed up from the old 'google play music' days.

 

[danny la rouge]

Here's a weird one. I lost my dad last week. Yesterday I saw that Spotify has a 'made for me' playlist on coping with loss. Which makes me think a) how did it know and b) why the fuck does Spotify think listening to Snow Patrol or Against All Odds by Phil Collins would make me feel better?

So for your loss. And yes, that’s creepy.

 

[Voley]

Spotify has just emailed to tell me this:



I have been listening to The Orb since 1989.

 

[Hollis]

The best way I've found of finding new stuff on Spotify is the 'Discovery' playlists they put together.. usually find something on that, then switch to the artist/album to see how much I like their other stuff..

 

[Silas Loom]

Premium family now £20 per month. It’s starting to look like questionable value, even for heavy users.

 

[danny la rouge]

Suggested albums insult!

I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!​

 

[Hollis]

Both good albums Danny

 

[danny la rouge]

Both good albums Danny

I felt Spotify was accusing me of being Jeremy Clarkson!

 

[Silas Loom]

It’s calling me a bleeding australopontine!

 

[Hollis]

I felt Spotify was accusing me of being Jeremy Clarkson!

Clarkson is more of a Floyd man.

 

[Jennaonthebeach]

Premium family now £20 per month. It’s starting to look like questionable value, even for heavy users.

I made the leap to YT Music a little while ago - looking like a very good decision already.

 

[Jennaonthebeach]

Just like last time this thread came up, it still wants me to listen to Kate Bush.

View attachment 398125

Since when was Kate Bush "alternative"? She was one of the most successful artists of the 80s.

 

[Skim]

The Daylist feature has some amusing made-up genres and throws up playlists that I quite like listening to BUT I DO NOT LISTEN TO ETHIOPIAN JAZZ ON SUNDAYS

 

[SpookyFrank]

If only there was some way to just choose what records you listen to instead of having an algorithm do it for you.

Til The Band Comes In doesn't work unless you play all the songs in order. And you stop it about five tracks from the end and put something else on instead.

 

[Jennaonthebeach]

If only there was some way to just choose what records you listen to instead of having an algorithm do it for you.

I usually run a playlist, made by me, on my computer, or pick an album to play - but when driving its useful to have something picking the tunes for you - i used to have a partner for that, but after his passing i rely on an app.

 

[danny la rouge]

If only there was some way to just choose what records you listen to instead of having an algorithm do it for you.

The algorithm doesn’t choose. You can play whole Scott Walker albums. Or playlists you’ve collated. Like an old fashioned mix tape. And you can preset for the album or playlist just to play again rather than Spotify start improvising. That’s how I’ve got it set up.

But I would still like to complain about the stupid suggestions it makes, despite knowing my favourite artists include Moondog and Can (pictured). “You’ve just listened to Tago Mago. You might like Brothers in Arms”. Like fuck ah wid, ya thick tadger!

 

[Voley]

I find it works for me most of the time, just with a few odd outliers. I kept getting recommended a Sting gig in Plymouth that confused me, well, enraged me tbh, until I realised that Blondie were the support. Made sense then.

It recommended Madball to me recently who I'd never heard before but now like, after I went on a bit of NYHC thing for a bit.

 

[Voley]

It still insists I should be listening to Kate Bush mind. Seriously, I have tried.

 

[Serge Forward]

Hmm... the Spotify algorithm seems to be suggesting stuff that's pretty much just right for me. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Hmm... the Spotify algorithm seems to be suggesting stuff that's pretty much just right for me. What am I doing wrong?

I don't normally find it's wrong in the sense of 'why don't you listen to some Coldplay and Toploader,' it's normally stuff that I do like, but it tends to be a little bit less adventurous and more repetitive than I'd otherwise be. Like it will pick a tune which I quite like and listen through, and then before you know it it's on regular rotation.