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FTT
Trending Lyricist I
June 20, 2018

Playlists Vs. Genres -- Why Different Menu Options

  • June 20, 2018
  • 14 replies
  • 1156 views
For reference, I use Google Music...

Quick question: when I'm viewing a playlist (so in a specific playlist, not just viewing all of my playlists), to the upper right I get the three dot menu option that allows me to "play now", "play next", "add to end of queue", etc. I get six useful options.

If I'm in a genre, and view a specific genre, and click that same menu option, all I get is the option to "Add to My Sonos." It doesn't allow me to add songs to a queue or to create quick and easy playlists.

Why not give that same functionality that I get from my playlists view to genres, artists, etc.? Is this simply an oversight that can be corrected?
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14 replies

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Alan_6
Prodigy II
June 21, 2018
As genre is available as metadata, I don't see why some users wouldn't want to be able to add music of a certain genre - just like others add it by album, artist or whatever.
Alan_6 seems to think all users should treat the idea of a genre 'filter' as he does and not how they wish to use it. It's metadata in the same sense as Artist, album etc. etc...
If Google haven't implemented it this way then that's probably an issue with their side as opposed to Sonos's.

To clarify (and I thought I had), different people will have different uses for genre classification, whether it's a really common genre (eg. "Rock") or a niche genre (eg. "Djent" or any of the hundreds of rock/metal sub-genres). If you find value in asking Sonos to "play all rock songs", go for it. If using a genre as a starting point to get to your next album/artist/etc listening choice works, that's cool too.

But there may be actual reasons why Sonos and/or selected services might struggle to offer you an infinite set of "all rock songs".
    FTTAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    June 28, 2018
    Are you sure when in google play you don't get an option to add to My Sonos. You should. I don't have google play to test but I know in some services you have to scroll down and hit more.


    I'm in Spotify Music right now and if I hit the ... the 2nd option is add to My Sonos.

    In apple music the first option is Add Playlist to My Sonos

    No, I don't get this option in Google Music. It may be specific to Apple. In any case, it's not exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. To create a music queue while in Sonos (not a saved playlist, just a queue for that listening session), I'd like to be able to add a group of songs. I can do it with my premade playlists, but I can't a genre or music from a specific artist to the queue. It appears it'd be easy as the functionality already exists for playlists, so Sonos could just add that same functionality to genres and artists.

    Any feedback from Sonos on this?
    FTTAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    June 28, 2018
    As genre is available as metadata, I don't see why some users wouldn't want to be able to add music of a certain genre - just like others add it by album, artist or whatever.
    Alan_6 seems to think all users should treat the idea of a genre 'filter' as he does and not how they wish to use it. It's metadata in the same sense as Artist, album etc. etc...
    If Google haven't implemented it this way then that's probably an issue with their side as opposed to Sonos's.

    Agreed, SJW. And it seems a little pointless to question how we want to create our music libraries and play them. We all have our own preferences for doing that.

    Going back to my original point, Sonos could enable their users with more options if they added the same functionality they give to playlists to genres and artists.

    Again (as relates to Google Music), looking at a playlist, I get menu options to add that playlist to a queue, play next, etc. But if I'm looking at a genre or artist, I don't get any of that functionality (I only get the option to add to my Sonos). Why doesn't Sonos add the same menu options they give to playlists to genres and artists?
    jgatie
    jgatie
    June 29, 2018


    Agreed, SJW. And it seems a little pointless to question how we want to create our music libraries and play them. We all have our own preferences for doing that.

    Going back to my original point, Sonos could enable their users with more options if they added the same functionality they give to playlists to genres and artists.

    Again (as relates to Google Music), looking at a playlist, I get menu options to add that playlist to a queue, play next, etc. But if I'm looking at a genre or artist, I don't get any of that functionality (I only get the option to add to my Sonos). Why doesn't Sonos add the same menu options they give to playlists to genres and artists?

    Sonos has nothing to do with it. Each service creates their own interface within the Sonos app using SMAPI (Sonos Music Application Programming Interface). If there is no add by genre/artist functionality in Google Play Music, it is because Google either can't do it on their side, or they chose not to put it in the app. This is why some music services have it, and Google Play Music does not. Either way, while bringing it up here may do some good, going direct to the source by lobbying Google Play Music will be far more effective in getting the features you wish.

    For more on SMAPI and the Sonos Music Partners program, see these links:

    https://musicpartners.sonos.com/?q=node/21

    https://musicpartners.sonos.com/node/72
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