166 votes
Sort it so that tracks play in the order they are chosen in.
I uploaded and selected songs for my mix in a particular order, but when you play the mix, they pop up in a random order. Would it be possible to ensure they play in the desired order?
I realize this sucks -- the sequence of a playlist is an essential part of the value of the playlist as a whole. What currently happens is a listener will hear the CORRECT order the first time he/she tunes in. If he/she then tunes in a 2nd time, then the order is randomized.
I'm working with our legal counsel to figure out a better way to meet the requirements of the compulsory license without having to force randomization.
- 8tracks
8tracks
@chewbobba The rules around skipping are pretty standard (6X per hour in a given program) though it's a tacit agreement with labels and not addressed in the statutory rules. A 3-hour mix is a possibility but program has to continuously loop (this is what Live365 does); a 5-hour mix can be played from the beginning. The latter is likely only do-able as a "mix-of-mixes".
2 months ago
8tracks
@chewbobba We're planning to allow DJs to time-code a single MP3, e.g. so can add metadata at various points in the file. This is important for DJs who actually are mixing music. At the outset, this would have the same impact as making each mix play as a single track.
2 months ago
chewbobba
Perhaps setting the duration to 1 or 2 hrs would be more realistic. Is that what the terms of your license say? 5 hours?
2 months ago
chewbobba
I realise skipping creates a legal minefield for you. I hope this adaptation would help. I like the first option too, although uploading and arranging stuff for a 5 hour mix would be so time consuming- and who would have time to listen for 5 hours? I think that would put off so many people that the facility would be useless.
2 months ago
chewbobba
Yes- a selectable option which would play each mix as a 'track' with all the numbers in their arranged order (so if you skip, you just get the next mix in line), or the ability to keep things as they are (some people like that randomness).
2 months ago
8tracks
But I think what you're suggesting is to give the option to the *listener*, correct? I really want to find a way to make this happen b/c sequencing is a critical part of mix-making. (Skipping could be an option in either scenario.)
Am I understanding your thinking accurately (feel free to email me at dp@8racks.com if you'd like).
2 months ago
8tracks
That's an interesting idea. I'd been thinking about it more from the DJ's point of view, as an option, i.e. create short mix that randomizes on 2nd listeners, OR create long mix (at least 5 hours) that does not.
2 months ago
chewbobba
Okay. To fit with both the non-interactive and order issues, how about an option of either listening in 'random' or the correct sequence being played as one long track? With fast forward not being an option, you would need to sit through the whole thing to get to the required track, which in some cases would suit the design of the mix from the dj's point of view. Would that work?
2 months ago
8tracks
Also note that if this is your OWN mix, and the tracks are those you uploaded, you *will* soon be able to listen in the intended order (and, in fact, on demand).
2 months ago
8tracks
Hi Chewbobba, while annoying, we have to randomize in order to comply with the non-interactivity requirements of our license. One potential alternative would be to require that each "program" be at least 5 hours in length; this program could be 1 long mix or a mix-of-mixes including both your or others' mixes.
2 months ago
chewbobba
How about designing a facility to make randomising/sequence an option after logging in after a set number of times? It is a bit annoying when the list is out of sequence.
2 months ago
mkwp100
8tracks was not mixtape.
2 months ago
Natmandu
Agreed - I have already commented on this.
4 months ago
exposur3
based on http://8tracks.com/legal it looks like that's by design.
"An objective of the compulsory license is to ensure that a listener's experience is similar to traditional radio and essentially non-interactive (i.e., you can't hear a specific song when you want it), so as not to substitute for music purchase."
4 months ago