Gina Wetzler, Getty Images / Redferns / Spotify / Cameron Spencer, Getty Images
You may have noticed a slight change on Spotify if you've recently been listening to an album. At the behest of singer-songwriter megastar Adele, the streaming platform removed the shuffle option as the default playback setting for individual albums, and Shinedown was thrilled.
That one person alone led a leading on-demand audio streaming service to permanently transform their listening experience speaks to the power and influence of the singer, who has sold over 120 million albums worldwide.
Make no mistake if you feel the urge to listen to an album in random order from start to finish and are aware that the artist put the songs in order for a reason, you still have equal control over Your experience. The random toggle option is available, it just isn't the default option anymore.
“That was the only request I had in our ever-changing industry! We put so much care and thought into our tracklisting albums for a reason. Our art tells a story, and our stories should be heard as we intended. Thanks Spotify for listening, ”Adele wrote on Twitter in response to Spotify's latest feature change.
This was the only request I had in our ever-changing industry! We put so much care and thought into our tracklisting albums for a reason. Our art tells a story, and our stories should be heard as we intended. Thanks Spotify for listening ♥ ️ https://t.co/XWlykhqxAy
– Adele (@Adele) November 21, 2021
Shinedown frontman Brent Smith was particularly excited about what Adele had accomplished and shared a message on Instagram sharing his thoughts on it.
“If anyone understands the importance of an 'album', it is me (Eric Bass, Barry Kerch, Zach Myers) and the WHOLE #ShinedownFamily," began Smith, who has sung on all six of Shinedown's albums.
"The fact that Adele was able to get Spotify to remove the shuffle button on the album pages is massive," he continued. “Simply put, albums tell a story, whether they're conceptual or not. They are a snapshot, a "window of time" in the hearts and minds of the artist. Well, some opinions may be on this, what's the big deal? and why is it important? It's important because it gives value back to the music and the artist. Ultimately, it comes down to respect. With that in mind, we applaud Adele and Spotify … MANY RESPECT. "
The move seems to be a win for everyone. In theory, listeners get a better listening experience by hearing the songs in the order the artist intended, and it doesn't reduce the work of the artists to just random playback. Given that Spotify already wanted access to everything they say in order to better recommend music to you, this latest tweak is in line with the goal of maximizing the user experience.
Don't worry for all playlist listeners – Spotify hasn't deleted your default shuffle option for these. And don't forget that Loudwire has our own Spotify playlists – check out these here.
Shinedown headlined North America early next year with special guests Pop Evil and Ayron Jones on selected dates. It has also been confirmed that the veteran group's seventh album will also be released in early 2022.
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