Predictive Music Shuffling Algorithm

Abstract — Shuffling is a method employed to randomize a data set to ensure an element of chance when elements from the data set are selected at random. Literature has established that computers are capable of generating an ideal shuffle; a bias-free random permutation of cards. Shuffling is also widely used in music players as a separate feature allowing listeners to randomize their playlists. However, an ideal or bias-free shuffle may prove to be counter-intuitive in this case as even in randomized selections, listeners tend to have inclinations towards a certain type of songs depending on their mood. In this paper, we propose a predictive shuffling algorithm that can provide automated dynamic based shuffling according to the user's preferences. This shuffling takes into account various parameters like genre, artist, play duration and release date and selects the next song on that basis. Keywords—Music Shuffling, Predictive Music Shuffling I