To shuffle or not to shuffle, that is the question. Some playlists in my library are days long in songs and can only be properly enjoyed when randomly mixed. Then again, I've created playlists that hold five perfect tracks with an order too intricate to articulate. Maybe this streaming feature has never crossed your mind until this post, or you're so loyal to your preference for shuffling that you're willing to defend your side. What stands true is that the differences between the listening experiences of shuffling or playing front to back are stark.
Some argue that shuffling a pre-curated order like an album is equivalent to slapping the artist in person. Full wind-up, deep eye contact, with no remorse. Do you feel your palm stinging each time you shuffle "Currents" from Tame Impala? On the other hand, there's also the argument that the closing song is inarguably the best on any track list, and listening to each 50-minute buildup isn’t reasonable.
In 2021, Spotify decided to remove the shuffle button as the default option when streaming an album. The singer Adele had requested this on the platform and, in response, stated that artists “don’t create albums with so much care and thought into our track listing for no reason. Our art tells a story, and our stories should be listened to as we intended” on X, formerly Twitter. Her perspective shows how the artistic intent in sequencing isn't arbitrary, and considering this process is influential. Shuffling tracks reshapes the messaging and storyline of a track list, and as a listener, we could be rewriting the emotional flow.
This isn't to say that we should only begin albums with the intended opening track, but that recognizing the intention behind sequencing can deepen how we experience music. There are no drawbacks to trying to understand an album's design, as it allows us to engage with the full narrative that an artist built. Let's say you're making a playlist to hype yourself up before a demanding workout. Consider how an artist might design the middle of their album to build tension and anticipation for the upcoming resolution. This helps you reason where a powerful, fitting song would sit, which can strengthen your playlist choices.
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So what happens when we hit shuffle?
Streaming culture has popularized shuffling incredibly. Across all demographics, single tracks account for 46% of total listening time. As the most popular option, music consumption is driven by shuffling since the feature centers on songs rather than track order. Like ordered listening, shuffling offers many benefits for the listener! When you choose to shuffle tracks, music discovery and variety are amplified.
The fixed order of a playlist or album creates listening fatigue as we grow accustomed to the arrangement. When you change things up, you can rediscover deep-cut songs that have been collecting dust in your library. That feeling when a track you haven't heard in months (or years) plays, but somehow you know every word like muscle memory? Euphoric. Shuffling encourages that experience!
Choosing to shuffle can still be intentional listening. It hands control back to us, the listener, to keep music feeling fresh and new. You’re actively deciding to surrender whatever order is in place to welcome unpredictability. In a way, shuffling becomes its own kind of storytelling. One minute you’re replaying a current favorite, the next a song that defined a random Thursday three summers ago.
Sometimes, though, our algorithm can hijack the aux. Most "random" shuffle algorithms on streaming services disproportionately pull from recent listening history and are designed to avoid playing back-to-back songs from the same artist or album. Unfortunately, prioritizing engagement restricts our listening experience. Shuffling instead feels like three kids in a trench coat pretending to be variety, when it's really just songs you already played today in a slightly different order.
What does this mean for our decision?
Whether you shuffle or stick to the track order, you’re shaping your own experience. The power of listening in this streaming era is that there is no universal “right” way to enjoy music. Both approaches can offer value if we listen intentionally. Next time you press play, I encourage you to set a goal. Do you want to immerse yourself in a story, or let spontaneity guide you? The answer can change with the moment or mood, but decide your path intentionally.
To shuffle or not to shuffle? It’s not a sin. It’s a choice.
