Similarly to making so many of the playlists "made for you", they've completely ruined the "radio" feature. You used to be able to select the radio option on a song, artist, or playlist and get a playlist of songs that seemed to be a good mix of musically similar and being liked by people who liked the selected starting point.
Starting at some point around 2 years ago (it seems they A-B tested this for a while because it went back and forth), the radio option became so highly customized to your user account that most songs it plays will be ones you've heard a billion times, even songs that aren't remotely similar in any way other than that you like them.
And the playlist radio option, which was the most powerful one for discovery, has been completely removed.
I used the radio option for years to discover new music, and I really loved it. Now I feel a twinge of sadness mixed with rage when my memories of the good days get me to open Spotify and I remember what it's become.
The tests must reveal what is easily deduced: most, nearly all people do not enjoy much variety. They want to think they do, but their actions prove otherwise.
This sucks for you and me but is Spotify giving the masses what they actually enjoy.
Many years ago my most listened song (on ripped CDs in iTunes) had a few thousand plays because I turned off my headphones (analogue wireless!) while I had a track on repeat, only actually planning to listen to it a second time, and went on holiday for a week.
Starting at some point around 2 years ago (it seems they A-B tested this for a while because it went back and forth), the radio option became so highly customized to your user account that most songs it plays will be ones you've heard a billion times, even songs that aren't remotely similar in any way other than that you like them.
And the playlist radio option, which was the most powerful one for discovery, has been completely removed.
I used the radio option for years to discover new music, and I really loved it. Now I feel a twinge of sadness mixed with rage when my memories of the good days get me to open Spotify and I remember what it's become.